EVALUATION OF A GERMAN VERSION OF THE WOM AC (WESTERN-ONTARIO-UNIVERSITY AND MCMASTER-UNIVERSITY) OSTEOARTHRITIS INDEX

The WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities) Osteoarthritis I ndex is a tested questionnaire to assess symptoms and physical functio nal disability. We adapted the WOMAC for the German language and teste d its metric properties, test-retest reliability and validity in 51 pa tients with knee and hip OA. All WOMAC scales (pain, stiffness, functi on) were internally consistent with Cronbach's coefficient alpha rangi ng from 0.80 to 0.96. Test-retest reliability was satisfactory with in traclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.55 to 0.74. All scale s and the global index calculated as the mean of scale scores had a bi modal distribution and a slight ceiling effect. As hypothesized the WO MAC scales were associated with radiological OA-severity and limitatio ns of range-of-motion. Patients with more severe symptoms and function al disability perceived more limitations in their roles at home and at work. The presented German version of the WOMAC is a reliable and val id instrument for the assessment of symptoms and physical functional d isability in patients with knee and hip OA.