The Northwick Park Dependency Score and its relationship to nursing hours in neurological rehabilitation

To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Northwick Park Dependency Score as a measure of nursing dependency.

Inpatients in a specialist neurological rehabilitation unit.

The Northwick Park Dependency Score was measured by 2 assessors and compared with nursing hours. The Barthel ADL Index and the Short Orientation Memory and Concentration test were also compared with the Northwick Park Dependency Score. Time to score the Barthel ADL Index and Northwick Park Dependency Score was recorded. Statistical analysis was carried out using Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient.

There was a high correlation between the Northwick Park Dependency Score total scores of the 2 observers (rho = 0.80, p < 0.005) and a correlation of rho = 0.87 between the Northwick Park Dependency Score total score and nursing time. There was a high negative correlation between the Northwick Park Dependency Score and the Barthel ADL Index.

The Northwick Park Dependency Score is a valid and reliable way to assess nursing dependency. However, total scores can obscure relevant detail and individual raters differ. The Barthel ADL Index is equally related to nursing dependency.