Psychometric properties of the modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile in stroke patients.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the test-retest reliability, convergent and predictive validity and responsiveness of the modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile (mEFAP) in assessing gait function in stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation.


METHODS
Forty subacute stroke inpatients were enrolled in the validity and responsiveness study. Twenty chronic patients participated in the reliability study.


METHODS
Rehabilitation department of a medical centre.


METHODS
In the validity and responsiveness study, patients were tested using the mEFAP, 10-m walking speed test, Barthel Index and Rivermead Mobility Index at admission and at discharge. For the reliability study, the patients completed the mEFAP twice one week apart.


RESULTS
The patients' performances on the mEFAP were moderately to highly correlated with results of the 10-m walking speed test and Rivermead Mobility Index (absolute correlation coefficients > or = 0.67), indicating good convergent validity. Patients' performance on the mEFAP at admission was moderately correlated with the Barthel Index and Rivermead Mobility Index scores at discharge (Spearman's rank correlation coefficients = -0.52 and -0.78, respectively), indicating good predictive validity. The standardized response mean of the mEFAP was 1.1 (P < 0.0001), suggesting good responsiveness. The intraclass correlation coefficient ICC(3,1) for the mEFAP was 0.997, indicating excellent test retest reliability.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results provide strong evidence that the mEFAP has good reliability, validity and responsiveness for assessing stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation. The mEFAP is a useful scale for measuring walking function and recovery in stroke patients.
Liaw
Lih-Jiun
LJ
Faculty of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan.
Hsieh
Ching-Lin
CL
Lo
Sing-Kai
SK
Lee
Su
S
Huang
Mao-Hsiung
MH
Lin
Jau-Hong
JH
D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*