FIM after hip fracture: is telephone administration valid and sensitive to change?
OBJECTIVE
It has been reported recently that follow-up FIM trade mark scores have been obtained from stroke patients via telephone interviews with either the former patient or proxy caregivers. We studied the validity and sensitivity of change of a "phone FIM" score in a sample of hip fracture patients after rehabilitation.


METHODS
We compared FIM scores among hip fracture patients in a specialized musculoskeletal rehabilitation program. Sample size estimate of 27 was determined before the study. Patients included those with hip fracture returning to independent living in their own home.


RESULTS
Twenty-nine patients were identified as a convenience sample of admitted patients. The phone FIM score at 8 wk was a valid predictor of the discharge FIM score and the observed FIM and phone FIM scores at 8 wk were similar. The sensitivity to change over 8 wk was similar between observed and phone FIM scores compared with the discharge FIM score.


CONCLUSIONS
The phone FIM instrument presents a useful clinical instrument to monitor patient functional status in the community, showing excellent psychometric properties. Ease of use and low cost should encourage greater use in clinical management of these patients.
Petrella
R J
RJ
School of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Overend
T
T
Chesworth
B
B
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020127:Recovery of Function; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012648:Self Care; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D013689:Telephone