title: Measurement of functional ability following traumatic brain injury using the Clinical Outcomes Variable Scale: a reliability study.
abstract: This study determined the inter-tester and intra-tester reliability of physiotherapists measuring functional motor ability of traumatic brain injury clients using the Clinical Outcomes Variable Scale (COVS). To test inter-tester reliability, 14 physiotherapists scored the ability of 16 videotaped patients to execute the items that comprise the COVS. Intra-tester reliability was determined by four physiotherapists repeating their assessments after one week, and three months later. The intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were very high for both inter-tester reliability (ICC > 0.97 for total COVS scores, ICC > 0.93 for individual COVS items) and intra-tester reliability (ICC > 0 97). This study demonstrates that physiotherapists are reliable in the administration of the COVS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia. n.lowchoy@shrs.uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Low Choy
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuys
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isles
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors