Dominic Truong presenting “An international clinimetric evaluation of the Short Physical Performance Battery test in survivors of critical illness” at the Graduate Colloquium

Dominic Truong is a part-time PhD candidate within the Department of Physiotherapy at the university, with his thesis investigating muscle dysfunction in survivors of critical illness with a focus on physical function and ultrasound.

Dominic was recently awarded the Elizabeth Ellis New Researcher award within the Cardiorespiratory stream at the Australian Physiotherapy Association Conference 2023. He also works clinically as a senior critical care physiotherapist at Monash Health. His clinical and research interests include ICU rehabilitation, point of care ultrasound, and respiratory physiotherapy.

The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) assesses lower limb function and has demonstrated validity in ICU survivor. However, it has not had comprehensive clinimetric evaluation to determine its clinical applicability across the continuum of care in ICU survivors. Dominics retrospective clinimetric analysis aimed to evaluate the validity, responsiveness, floor and ceiling effect and trajectory of the SPPB through pooling data from eight studies involving adults in ICU admission. His findings indicate SPPB is a valid and responsive outcome measure in ICU survivors and may be used to identify supports and rehabilitation needs post hospital discharge.