Reliability and validity of 6MWT for outpatients with schizophrenia: A preliminary study

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Eluana Gomes (Author) Other; Tânia Bastos (Author) FADEUP; Michel Probst (Author) Other; José Carlos Ribeiro (Author) FADEUP; Gustavo Silva (Author) Other; Rui Corredeira (Author) FADEUP

Journal

Title: Psychiatry Research

Vol. 237

Pages: 37-42

ISSN: 0165-1781

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 12 Citations

Scopus - 13 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Social sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-7AB

DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.01.066

Abstract (EN): Although the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) has been widely used in patients with schizophrenia, there is a lack of scientific evidence about its reliability and validity in this population. The first goal of this study was to explore the test-retest reliability of the 6MWT and to identify the associated parameters that contribute to the variability of the distance walked during the 6MWT in outpatients with schizophrenia. The second goal was to assess the criterion validity of the 6MWT in men with schizophrenia. Fifty one outpatients with schizophrenia participated in the study. To test-retest reliability (men = 39; women = 12), participants performed the 6MWT twice within 3 days interval. To test criterion validity (men = 13), peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) was measured on a treadmill. For the associated parameters with the distance walked (n = 51), medications use, smoking behavior, body and bone composition, and physical activity levels were analyzed. No significant differences between the means of the two 6MWTs were found. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.94 indicating good reliability. 6MWT correlated significantly with VO2peak (r = 0.67) indicating criterion validity. Height, body fat mass, smoking behavior and minutes of PA/week were significantly associated with the 6MWT. Results suggest that 6MWT shows good reliability for individuals with schizophrenia and good validity for the small sample of male participants in this study.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6