Reproducibility of the ABILOCO Questionnaire and Comparison Between Self-Reported and Observed Locomotion Ability in Adult Patients With Stroke

Abstract 

Caty GD, Theunissen E, Lejeune TM. Reproducibility of the ABILOCO questionnaire and comparison between self-reported and observed locomotion ability in adult patients with stroke.

Objectives

To test the reproducibility of the ABILOCO questionnaire. To validate the patient self-reporting method and the third-party assessment of the stroke patients' locomotion ability by a treating physical therapist.

Design

Prospective study.

Setting

University hospital.

Participants

Adult stroke patients (N=28; 59±13y). The time since stroke ranged from 3 to 253 weeks.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measure

The ABILOCO questionnaire.

Results

The results of patient self-assessment and the results of the third-party assessments by the physiotherapists at a 2-week interval were highly correlated (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]=.77 and ICC=.89, respectively). The results of the patient self-assessment and the third-party assessment by the physical therapist were both well correlated to assessment by an independent medical examiner who observed the patient during the 13 ABILOCO activities (ICC=.69 and ICC=.87, respectively).

Conclusions

The use of ABILOCO as a self-reporting questionnaire is a valid and reproducible method for assessing locomotion ability in patients with stroke in daily clinical practice and research.

Key Words: Locomotion, Outcome assessment (health care), Questionnaires, Rehabilitation, Stroke

List of Abbreviations: ICC, intraclass correlation coefficients, MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination