Barthel ADL Index: a comparison of administration methods

Abstract

The Barthel ADL Index is routinely used to assess elderly patients after discharge from hospital. Its inter-rater reliability and criterion validity have been well established. However, the inter-method reliability in administering this scale has not been sufficiently documentated. This study compares post, telephone and interview (visit) methods of administration to investigate their agreement. The index was administered by the three methods in random order after patients were discharged from acute geriatric wards. Results suggest that these three methods are reliable and agree well with each other in the total scores obtained.

Applying cognitive debriefing to pre-test patient-reported outcomes in older people with multiple sclerosis

“…We found, in fact, that answers to this vaguer question correlated reasonably well with questions in BI and FAI that were more specific. Our findings concur with others which suggest that respondents are accurate and consistent with interviewers' assessments when completing PROs [14,18,19].…”

“…Participants completed five questionnaires that were being considered for a postal survey, in the following order: Frenchay Activities Index [13], Barthel Index [14], Simple Lifestyle Indicator Questionnaire [15], EuroQoL EQ-5D [16] and Personal Resources Questionnaire 2000 [17] (see online for additional information). We chose PROs based on the minimal set of previously validated instruments that measured the specific domains required for the larger study (exercise, diet, alcohol use, smoking, social support, activities, functional ability and health-related quality of life).…”

Dysphagia and nutritional status in multiple sclerosis

“…Neurological impairment and disability were scored using Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Score [11] and Barthel's score [12,13], yielding a score out of 20 (where 20 signified fully independent). Cognitive function was screened using a Short Orientation Memory and Concentration Test (maximum score 30) [14] and affective state using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [15] with separate scores for anxiety and depression (>7/21 signified significant anxiety or depression).…”

Validity and Reliability of the Barthel Index Administered by Telephone

“…We found excellent agreement between the 2 methods with a wK of 0.90, like in another 3 studies. [2][3][4] We found excellent agreement in each single item of the BI with values ranging from 0.70 in the bowels to 0.91 in bathing. Bowel control had the lowest agreement also in another study.…”

“…1 Telephone assessment of the BI has been evaluated in only 3 studies, [2][3][4] showing a high agreement between telephone and face-to-face (f-to-f) assessments. We aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the BI administered by telephone compared with f-to-f assessment in clinically stable patients with stroke.…”