Reliability of the assessment of impairments and disabilities in survey research in the field of physical therapy.
OBJECTIVE
to evaluate the reliability of diagnostic assessment based on clinical observations by physical therapists.


METHODS
interobserver studies between two pairs of physical therapists.


METHODS
two primary-care physical therapy practices.


METHODS
all applying to the practices for treatment.


METHODS
physical therapy in previous 3 months, or need for acute treatment.


METHODS
schedule derived from the ICIDH.


RESULTS
agreement on disabilities better than on impairments, the latter revealing problems particularly with pain and restricted range of motion.


CONCLUSIONS
reliability of assessments of most of the categories considered was reliable; in two categories the reliability was poor, and the categories were modified.
van Triet
E F
EF
Netherlands Institute of Primary Health Care, Utrecht.
Dekker
J
J
Kerssens
J J
JJ
Curfs
E C
EC
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000145:classification*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D009790:Occupations; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012648:Self Care; D016138:Walking