The versions of the Oswestry disability questionnaire (ODQ) is regarded as one of the most extensively used condition-specific instruments measuring disability resulting from low back pain. It has been shown to have adequate psychometrics, reliability, validity, and responsiveness as a whole, yet the summated total score of the instrument often provide little information to rehabilitation clinicians. A keyform analysis based on Rasch measurement model is an innovative way of illustrating the specific test items that an individual may or may not perform. By applying the keyform of the Rasch measurement model to the ODQ, rehabilitation clinicians may able to select more challenging ODQ items matching an individual’s ability and document them as attainable treatment goals. The results demonstrated how a keyform analysis assist to setting possible goals for the treatment of individuals with low back pain. Forty-two individuals with low back pain were recruited from rehabilitation clinics in Gainesville, Florida. A series of Rasch analyses on the 10 items of the ODQ were performed using Winsteps software. The performance of two individuals on those 10 items was illustrated on the keyform. The keyform analysis of the Rasch measurement model may be translated into a useful tool for making clinical judgements.

• Bong-sam Choi(Dept. of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Woosong University) Corresponding author