Use of the Barthel Index and the Functional Independence Measure during early inpatient rehabilitation after single incident brain injury

Abstract

All measures were appropriate for younger (less than 65 years of age) patients undergoing early inpatient rehabilitation after single incident vascular or traumatic brain injury. The Barthel Index and the total and physical FIM scores showed similar responsiveness, whilst the cognitive FIM score was least responsive. These findings suggest that none of the FIM scores have any advantage over the Barthel Index in evaluating change in these circumstances.

Establishing the Validity of the Severity Indicator Resource Utilization Scale in comparison to the Functional Independence Measure

“…In addition to measuring disability the capacity to capture clinically significant changes in the outcome measured is important (Houlden, Edwards, McNeil, & Greenwood, 2006). This enables a valid measurement of case-mix pretreatment and subsequently the…”

“…effectiveness of treatment [12]. In terms of ABI/TBI, measurement must not only involve functional independence, physical impairments, but also a measure of the limitations caused by the cognitive and behavioral impairments which impact independence, especially in community re-entry [12].…”

“…In terms of ABI/TBI, measurement must not only involve functional independence, physical impairments, but also a measure of the limitations caused by the cognitive and behavioral impairments which impact independence, especially in community re-entry [12]. Essentially, a measure must be able to establish the resources required for the individual to gain functional independence post-rehabilitation.…”

“…Unfortunately, the number of tools available to measure resource utilization in ABI is scarce. Despite the fact that the FIM provides significant information regarding an individual's physical status it does not adequately capture the functional limitations imposed by cognitive and behavioral squeal [12].…”

ACTIVLIM-Stroke: A Crosscultural Rasch-Built Scale of Activity Limitations in Patients With Stroke

“…20 They are accepted as functional-level assessment tools evaluating the functional status of patients throughout the rehabilitation process. The FIM comprises 18 items, 18 and Linacre et al 21 found that these items define 2 statistically and clinically different indicators: (1) FIM-motor, which assesses disability in motor functions (13 items); and (2) FIM-cognitive, which assesses disability in cognitive functions (5 items).…”