Impact on participation and autonomy (IPA): Psychometric evaluation of the persian version to use for persons with stroke

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Impact on Participation and Autonomy questionnaire (IPA-P) to use for persons with stroke. A total of 102 persons diagnosed with first-ever stroke participated in this cross-sectional study. The psychometric properties were evaluated using a Rasch rating scale model. The results showed that IPA-P could not measure perceived participation as one unidimensional construct according to the criteria, but supported two different but related constructs. Performance-based participation consisted of 19 items including three IPA domains: autonomy indoors, family role, and autonomy outdoors. Social-based participation consisted of seven items from the social relations domain. The results provided evidence of internal scale validity, person response validity, and sensitivity for each of the two constructs of IPA-P. In conclusion, the results supported the psychometric properties of two constructs of perceived participation in the Persian sample tested. However further evaluation of psychometric properties of the IPA is needed in a variety of diagnoses and in other cultural backgrounds. © 2011 Informa Healthcare