Measuring the outcomes of day hospital attendance: a comparison of the Barthel Index and London Handicap Scale.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the ability of two scales to measure the effects of attendance at a geriatric day hospital.


METHODS
'Before-and-after' measurements.


METHODS
Day hospital serving a defined, urban, catchment area.


METHODS
One hundred and three consecutive new patients over a three-month period.


METHODS
Day hospital attendance for as long as the multidisciplinary team thought warranted.


METHODS
Barthel Index and London Handicap Scale.


RESULTS
Seventy-six patients (74%) attended for broadly defined 'rehabilitation'. Measurements on the Barthel Index and London Handicap Scale were completed on 54 of these. Repeat measurements after discharge from the day hospital were achieved on 37 patients. Patients attended between two and 57 times, with a median of eight. Mean Barthel Index did not change over the period of attendance. There was a small improvement in mean handicap score. Eight patients were identified post hoc who attended for 10 or more sessions, and they experienced a large mean reduction in handicap.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, neither the Barthel Index nor the London Handicap Scale changed much during attendance at the day hospital. Generally very short lengths of attendance may have explained this. For patients with more prolonged attendance, who might be expected to change more, the London Handicap Scale proved more responsive than the Barthel Index.
Harwood
R H
RH
University Department of Public Health, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK. rowan.jane.harwood@cwcom.net
Ebrahim
S
S
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000145:classification / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000145:classification*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population