Adaptação, validade e reprodutibilidade do teste de Shuttle modificado para pessoas com surdez

Abstract

Introduction: The lack of tests aimed at assessing the physical capacity of deaf people constitutes a barrier to comprehensive care and the promotion of health equity, fundamental principles advocated by the WHO. However, there are no validated tests to assess the physical capacity of this population, hindering their inclusion in rehabilitation and physical conditioning programs. The Modified Shuttle Test (MST), widely used in non-laboratory settings, is unfeasible for deaf people due to the use of auditory stimuli. Therefore, it becomes crucial to adapt the MST for deaf people, promoting equitable access to physical capacity assessments, ensuring the full participation of these individuals in physical conditioning programs and equality in health services. Objective: The main objective of this study was to develop an adaptation of the MST guided by visual signals, providing an inclusive approach to assess physical capacity in deaf people. Secondary objectives included evaluating the validity, feasibility, and reproducibility of the visual MST in deaf people. Method: The study consisted of two phases: Phase I involved the development of visual devices for adapting the TSM, the construction of support material, and validity assessment; and Phase II focused on testing the feasibility and reproducibility of the adapted TSM in deaf individuals. Adapting the TSM to incorporate visual cues aimed to provide an effective and inclusive assessment of physical ability in deaf individuals. Results: In Phase I (n = 31), there was no significant difference between the auditory and visual TSM for distance covered (1020 [820–1020] vs 1020 [845–1020] m; p>0.05), with excellent agreement (ICC = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.85–0.96) and a strong correlation (r = 0.86; p<0.05). In Phase II (n = 30), the visual TSM showed excellent test-retest reproducibility (ICC = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98–0.99), with a SEM of 24.93 (3.35%) and a DMD of 68.89 (9.27%). Feasibility was high (85% completion rate), with no adverse events. Conclusion: The TSM proved to be a feasible, valid, and reproducible instrument for assessing functional capacity in deaf individuals. This adaptation expands access to functional assessment for this population, contributing to a more equitable approach in exercise prescription.