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Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test
Availability
Please visit this website for more information about the instrument: Rehab Measures: Jebsen Hand Function Test
For more information, please visit: The SCI Research Evidence (SCIRE) website
 
Classification
Supplemental: Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy (DM), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and SCI- Pediatric (age 6 years and over)
 
Exploratory: Cerebral Palsy (CP), Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD), Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), Friedreich's Ataxia (FA), Neuromuscular Disease (NMD), and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
Short Description of Instrument
This test was designed to provide a short, objective test of hand functions commonly used in activities of daily living. It was developed for health professionals working in restoration of hand function.
 
The JHFT consists of 7 items that measure: (a) fine motor skills; (b) weighted functional tasks; and (c) non-weighted functional tasks (Jebsen et al., 1969; Vissers, 2012):
    • Writing a short sentence (24 letters, 3rd grade reading difficulty)
    • Turning over a 3×5 inch card
    • Picking up small common objects
    • Simulated feeding
    • Stacking checkers
    • Picking up large light cans 
    • Picking up large heavy cans 
Comments/Special Instructions
Copyright: Jebsen, Taylor, Treischmann, Trotter, & Howard, (1969). A test kit is sold commercially through multiple vendors, which usually includes instructions, all items needed to perform seven subtests, a carrying bag, and pad of 50 blank record forms.
 
Background: This is a performance measure. The test is a norm-referenced timed performance measure of unilateral hand function. The items include : (1) writing (copying) a 24-letter sentence, (2) turning over 3 x 5" cards (simulated page turning), picking up small common objects such as a paper clip, bottle cap and coin simulated feeding using a teaspoon and five kidney beans, (5) stacking checkers, (6) picking up large light objects (empty tin can) and (7) picking up large heavy objects (full tin can x 1 lb). The non-dominated hand is tested first, followed by the dominant hand. The instructions for test administration are provided in Jebsen et al. (1969). A Jebsen-Brief has been introduced and contains three items (Bovend'Eerdt, et al., 2004), but field testing has been limited.
Scoring and Psychometric Properties
Scoring: The time taken to complete each of the tasks is recorded in seconds during test administration. Scores are compared to normative data. Normative data are available for children over 6 years of age and for adult males and females in the 20-90 year age range. Studies show that scores high strongly correlated with age (times increase with older age), thus comparisons must be age-matched.
Each item is scored according to time taken to complete the task. Times are rounded to the nearest second (Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Evidence, 2010). The scores for all 7 items are then summed for a total score. Jebsen et al. (1969) established norms with a sample of 300 healthy subjects of different age groups (20-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50-59 years, 60-94 years). With the exception of writing, all items took under 10 seconds to perform. See Jebsen et al. (1969) for norms according to age, gender and hand use (dominant/non-dominant). (Vissers, 2012)
 
Psychometric Properties:
SCI-specific Psychometric Properties: Test-retest reliability lowest for writing and simulated feeding (Stern et al., 1992). There are no published psychometric studies in SCI population. Limitations of Jebsen Test of Hand Function in SCI is that some items require mid-line crossing and trunk control (thus not a pure measure of hand function) (Wuolle et al., 1994) and were not responsiveness to changes following tendon transfers (Mulcahey et al., 1999).
Rationale/Justification
Strengths: Commonly used Hand Function Test for adults with stable hand impairments. Administration without standardized equipment\set-up and without standardized instruction negatively impacts reliability.
 
Weaknesses: Testing requires tolerance for sitting upright for at least 45 minutes, thus recommended for subacute and chronic studies. Test-retest reliability ranges from poor-to- excellent (r=0.60- 0.99) in non-SCI populations.
References
Key-References:
Jebsen RH, Taylor N, Trieschmann RB, Trotter MJ, Howard LA. An objective and standardized test of hand function. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1969 Jun;50(6):311-9.
 
Bovend'Eerdt TJ, Dawes H, Johansen-Berg H, Wade DT. Evaluation of the Modified Jebsen Test of Hand Function and the University of Maryland Arm Questionnaire for Stroke. Clin Rehabil. 2004 Mar;18(2):195-202.
 
Additional References:
Lynch KB & Bridle MJ. Validity of the Jebsen-Taylor hand function test in predicting activities of daily living. Occup Ther J Res. 1989;9(5):316-18.
 
Mulcahey MJ, Betz RR, Smith BT, Weiss AA. A prospective study of the outcomes of tendon transfers with children with tetraplegia. J Pediatr Orthop. 1999;19:319-28.
 
Rider B & Linden C. Comparisons of standardized and non-standardized administration of the Jebsen Hand Function Test. J Hand Ther. 1988 Apr-Jun;1(3):121-23.
 
Stern EB. Stability of the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test across three test sessions. Am J Occup Ther. 1992 Jul;46(7):647-9.
 
Vissers J. Jepsen Hand Function Test. (2012) Accessed on 26 June 2023 from: https://strokengine.ca/en/assessments/jebsen-hand-function-test-jhft/.
 
Wuolle KS, Van Doren CL, Thrope GB, Keith MW, Peckham PH. Development of a quantitative hand grasp and release test for patients with tetraplegia using a hand neuroprosthesis. J Hand Surg Am. 1994 Mar;19(2):209-18.
 
Document last updated October 2024