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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Adult, Aged, Disability Evaluation, Exercise Therapy, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Physical Therapy Modalities, Range of Motion, Articular, Severity of Illness Index, Spondylarthropathies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Treatment Outcome.
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Is the Dougados Functional Index with the 5-point Likert scale sensitive to change due to intensive physiotherapy and exercise in spondyloarthropathy? Context: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the Dougados Functional Index (DFI) with 5-point Likert scale is sensitive enough to demonstrate the efficacy of intensive physiotherapy and exercise. Eight-one consecutive patients with spondyloarthropathy (SpA) completed self-administered questionnaires on functional analysis, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and the DFI with 5-point Likert scale, at the beginning and end of a 3-week in-patient course based on intensive physiotherapy and exercise. The objective effect of the course was measured with 10 ranges of movement. After a 6-month follow-up the patients completed the questionnaires by mail for analysis of the lasting impact of rehabilitation on function. The in-patient course was highly effective: all ranges of movement and both functional indices including the DFI with 5-point Likert scale improved to a highly significant degree. Six months later functional ability as measured by the DFI remained significantly better than at baseline before the in-patient course, but the BASFI had returned to the baseline level.
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The DFI with 5-point Likert scale is sensitive enough to demonstrate the effect of intensive physiotherapy and exercise. Final Decision: yes