Reliability of a Self-Administered Performance Evaluation Tool Based on the Modified Barthel Index

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Gerontology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Accurate assessment of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) is vital for determining patient independence.
• Existing tools for ADL assessment are often not standardized or suitable for large-scale, self-administered surveys.
• There is a need for reliable self-administered tools to evaluate ADL in diverse patient populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the reliability of the self-administered Performance Evaluation Tool based on the modified Barthel Index (PET-MBI).
• To assess the suitability of the PET-MBI for large-scale ADL surveys.
• To evaluate both inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the PET-MBI.

Main Methods:

• The study included 53 patients and 18 occupational therapists.
• Inter-rater and intra-rater reliabilities were determined using questionnaires.
• Inclusion criteria focused on patients in convalescent or community care wards capable of communication and experienced occupational therapists.

Main Results:

• Inter-rater reliability scores for PET-MBI were high, with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the total score at 0.888.
• Intra-rater reliability also demonstrated strong consistency, with an ICC of 0.927 for the total score.
• Reliability was confirmed for both total scores and numerous sub-items of the PET-MBI.

Conclusions:

• The self-administered PET-MBI is a reliable tool for assessing Activities of Daily Living (ADL).
• The PET-MBI shows significant potential for use in large-scale surveys.
• This tool can aid in evaluating patient independence and functional status effectively.