Test-Retest Reliability of a Measure of Independence in Everyday Activities: The ADL Profile

Very few performance-based measures used in occupational therapy have established test-retest reliability coefficients.

This study presents the test-retest reliability of the task and operation scores of a performance-based measure of independence in everyday activities called the ADL Profile.

20 adults with severe traumatic brain injury (mean age 28.4 years; SD 9.9) were tested on two occasions with the 17 tasks (personal care, home, and community) of the ADL Profile. Kappa coefficients were calculated on both task and operation scores (formulating goal, planning, executing, and goal attainment).

Test-retest reliability was moderate to almost perfect on task and operation scores of all 17 tasks. The three tasks with only moderate agreement were more novel and complex (e.g., making a budget) for the participants.

Use of measures that are stable over time is essential for treatment planning and research. Repeat testing is crucial with clients that require long periods of treatment (acute care, rehabilitation, and community integration) and multiple measurements of ADL independence.

The small sample size is a limit of the study.

Alternate versions of the three tasks with only moderate agreement would need to be developed and other psychometric properties established.