EPIC Hand Function Sort
Purpose:
This instrument evaluates and quantifies an individuals perception of their functional capabilities that involve the use of handling in various ways.
Administration:
- This test should take around 7-10 minutes for the evaluee to complete.
Instructions:
- The evaluee is given the test booklet and informed that this is a test of their current abilities of four sections of physical demands; sedentary, light, medium, heavy.
- Explain to evaluee that there are 62 drawings of various tasks with short descriptions below them and they are to evaluate their current level of ability to perform the various tasks.
- Explain that the scales of current ability ranges from 1-5; 1 being able and 5 being unable.
- There is a “?” answer option; “?” is unsure if able or not.
- Go through questions #1 and #2 with the evaluee and ensure they understand.
- Explain to them that they do not need to dwell on questions and to go with their first impression.
Before Scoring:
- Review all “?” answers with the evaluee and see if you can decide on a number score.
- There are a few pairs of questions in the booklet that require similar or the same physical demands (#1 and #14, #18 and #33, #55 and #60) ß review the evaluee’s answers and see if they answered the same level of ability for each pair.
- If there is discrepancy between the paired items, calculate the discrepancy and use that number as the answers for those questions.
- If there are discrepancies between:
o #1 and #14= get average score and report interpretation.
o #18 and #33= review discrepancies with evaluee- get average score and report interpretation.
o #55 and #60= review discrepancies with evaluee- retest and report results.
Scoring:
- Sum the number of responses in each column and multiply each column by the corresponding weighted factors. The column weighted factors are as follows:
o Column #1= x 4
o Column #2= x 3
o Column #3= x 2
o Column #4= x 1
- Next, sum each row and place each total above the diagonal lines in the corresponding RPC-1 box at the bottom left corner of the sheet (each row corresponds to a different level of work, row #1= Sedentary, row #2= Light, row #3= Medium, row #4= Heavy).
- Put row #1 in the left most RPC-1 box, row #2 in the next RPC-1 box and so on ß these sums are the Rating of Perceived Capacity for each level of physical demands.
- The sums of these RPC-1 scores are placed in the ‘Total’ box and used as the “Rating of Perceived Capacity” score of the evaluee.
- Ensure that each RCP-1 score above the diagonal line falls within the range of scores below the diagonal line.
Interpretation of Results:
- Compare “Total” with normative data.