The Barthel Index and its relationship to nursing dependency in rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical application of the Barthel Index as an indicator of nursing dependency in a younger disabled unit.


METHODS
A prospective study of 132 patients (mean age 49) with chronic neurological problems.


METHODS
A younger disabled unit at a District General Hospital, Oxford.


METHODS
The Barthel Index, and total nursing hours.


RESULTS
The Median Barthel Index was 7 (95% confidence interval 6-9). The mean nursing hours were 2.7 +/- 1.7 (CI 2.41-2.99). Spearman rank order correlation coefficient between the Barthel Index and nursing hours was r = -0.69 (CI -0.79 to -0.59).


CONCLUSIONS
Regression analysis showed that it was possible to use the Barthel Index as an indicator of nursing dependency particularly in physical care, and that it was independent of age and diagnosis.
al-Khawaja
I
I
North Staffordshire Hospital, Haywood, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
Wade
D T
DT
Turner
F
F
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000451:nursing* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006113:United Kingdom