The Applicability of the Difficulty with Mobility Questionnaire (DMQ) as an Outcome Measure for Dog Guide Instruction

Grow, Steve La; Towers, Andy; Kim, Dae; Haneline, Rod

doi:10.21307/ijom-2017-052

Abstract

This study sought to assess the reliability, validity, and sensitivity of the Difficulty with Mobility Questionnaire (DMQ) to determine its applicability as an outcome measure for dog guide instruction. Forty-nine trainees receiving dog guide instruction from Leader Dogs for the Blind participated in this study. All rated their overall ability to get around (AGA) and the difficulty they experienced with 16 separate mobility related behaviours (DMQ-16) before and after training. The DMQ-16 was found to be reliable, valid, and sensitive enough to register change over time and therefore useful as an outcome measure. Dog guide instruction was found to result in changes in mean AGA, mean DMQ-16 and all but one of the 16 items this measure assesses.

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The Applicability of the Difficulty with Mobility Questionnaire (DMQ) as an Outcome Measure for Dog Guide Instruction

Abstract

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