Patient-Specific Functional Scale
Assesses functional ability by having patients identify and rate activities that are important to them and in which they experience difficulty due to their condition
What is the Patient-Specific Functional Scale?
The Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) is a patient-centred outcome measure that allows you to identify and rate the difficulty of specific activities that are important to you. Unlike standardised questionnaires, the PSFS lets you choose activities that matter most to your daily life, making it a highly personalised tool for tracking your functional progress over time. This approach helps your healthcare team understand your unique challenges and measure meaningful improvements in activities that directly impact your quality of life.
Scoring System
Patients identify up to 5 activities that are important to them and that they find difficult due to their condition. Each activity is rated on an 11-point numerical scale from 0 to 10, where 0 represents "unable to perform the activity" and 10 represents "able to perform the activity at the same level as before the injury or problem". The individual activity scores can be averaged to produce an overall functional score ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate better functional ability. The scale can be administered at multiple time points to track changes in function over the course of treatment.
General Information
Clinical Information
Instructions
List up to 5 activities that are important to your daily life and that you find difficult to perform due to your condition. Rate each activity on a scale from 0 (unable to perform) to 10 (able to perform at the same level as before your injury or problem). The average score across your activities will indicate your functional status.
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Patient-Specific Functional Scale
Assesses functional ability by having patients identify and rate activities that are important to them and in which they experience difficulty due to their condition
Instructions:
List up to 5 activities that are important to your daily life and that you find difficult to perform due to your condition. Rate each activity on a scale from 0 (unable to perform) to 10 (able to perform at the same level as before your injury or problem). The average score across your activities will indicate your functional status.
Patient-Specific Functional Scale
Add activities and rate your difficulty
Type: ratings-list
Patient Watch Form - 10/31/2025
Detailed Scoring Methodology
Patients identify up to 5 activities that are important to them and that they find difficult due to their condition. Each activity is rated on an 11-point numerical scale from 0 to 10, where 0 represents "unable to perform the activity" and 10 represents "able to perform the activity at the same level as before the injury or problem". The individual activity scores can be averaged to produce an overall functional score ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate better functional ability. The scale can be administered at multiple time points to track changes in function over the course of treatment.
Meaningful Change Threshold
A change of 2 points or more on an individual activity is considered the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). For the average score across all activities, a change of 2 points is also considered clinically meaningful. This threshold indicates a significant change in the patient's functional ability that is noticeable and relevant to their daily life.
About the Developers
Developed by Paul W. Stratford, Carolyn Gill, Michael Westaway, and Jennifer Binkley in 1995 at McMaster University, Ontario, Canada. First published in: Stratford P, Gill C, Westaway M, Binkley J. Assessing disability and change on individual patients: a report of a patient specific measure. Physiotherapy Canada. 1995;47(4):258-263.
Copyright Information
The Patient-Specific Functional Scale is in the public domain and freely available for clinical and research use without licensing fees or copyright restrictions. It may be used, reproduced, and modified without permission.
Administration Instructions
List up to 5 activities that are important to your daily life and that you find difficult to perform due to your condition. Rate each activity on a scale from 0 (unable to perform) to 10 (able to perform at the same level as before your injury or problem). The average score across your activities will indicate your functional status.
Limitations & Considerations
The PSFS has several limitations to consider: (1) Floor effects may occur when patients identify activities they are already unable to perform, limiting the ability to detect further functional decline. (2) The individualised nature of the scale means scores cannot be directly compared between patients, as each person rates different activities. (3) Some patients may find it challenging to rate activities on a numerical scale or may select activities that are too broad or vague. (4) The scale relies on patient self-report and subjective perception, which may not correlate perfectly with objective functional measures. (5) Cultural or language differences may affect how patients interpret and use the rating scale.
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