Duruoz Hand Index (DHI): Assessing Hand Function
The Duruoz Hand Index is a self-report tool that assesses hand function in rheumatoid arthritis. It helps doctors track how well patients manage daily tasks like cooking, dressing and hygiene.

Duruoz Hand Index (DHI)
The Duruoz Hand Index (DHI) is a practical survey assessing hand function in daily life. It's often used for rheumatoid arthritis, evaluating 18 activities like kitchen work and dressing. This measure helps clinicians track functional ability and guide treatment plans effectively.
Category
Disease
Source
What is Duruoz Hand Index (DHI)
The Duruoz Hand Index (DHI) is a practical tool for assessing hand function in rheumatoid arthritis. It measures functional disability in daily life. This eighteen-item questionnaire evaluates how well patients handle manual tasks. It focuses on common activities of daily living that require strong grip, pinch, and dexterity. Questions cover practical areas like kitchen work, dressing, personal hygiene, and office tasks. Patients rate their ability on a simple scale from zero to five, so higher scores show more difficulty with specific movements and hand strength. Clinicians use it to track changes over time or check if treatments are working. It is quick to complete and works well for conditions like osteoarthritis and scleroderma too. The DHI helps therapists understand exactly where a patient struggles, making it easier to plan effective rehab strategies.
The Duruoz Hand Index can be scored using one straightforward approach: a cumulative total sum. This tool looks at 18 specific daily tasks, covering areas like kitchen work, dressing, and hygiene. For each activity, patients rate their difficulty on a Likert scale from 0, meaning no trouble at all, to 5, which means it is impossible to do. You simply add these up to get a final score ranging from 0 to 90. Higher numbers suggest more severe hand disability. It is a handy way for clinicians to track how well a treatment plan works over time.
Advantages
Measures treatment effectiveness through standardised tools.
Applicable across multiple diseases and conditions.
Simple to understand and complete for patients.
Provides consistent measurements for clinical research.
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