Scale Overview
The Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire – HAQ was developed by James F. Fries, et al. (1980). It is designed to measure Physical Disability and Functional Capacity. The scale is intended for use with Adults with arthritis or chronic illness.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 8 factors/subscales: Dressing & Grooming, Arising, Eating, Walking, Hygiene, Reach, Grip, Activities.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Dressing & Grooming |
1,2 |
2 |
| Arising |
3,4 |
2 |
| Eating |
5,6,7 |
3 |
| Walking |
8,9 |
2 |
| Hygiene |
10,11,12 |
3 |
| Reach |
13,14 |
2 |
| Grip |
15,16,17 |
3 |
| Activities |
18,19,20 |
3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Without ANY Difficulty, 1 = With SOME Difficulty, 2 = With MUCH Difficulty, 3 = UNABLE To Do.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 3. Interpretation guidelines:
- Mild to Moderate Difficulty: 0 – 1
- Moderate to Severe Disability: 1 – 2
- Severe to Very Severe Disability: 2 – 3
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of High internal consistency and test-retest reliability.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.