Evaluation of the Swedish version of the Modified Elderly Mobility Scale (Swe M-EMS) in patients with acute stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the inter-rater reliability and validity of the Swedish version of the Modified Elderly Mobility Scale (Swe M-EMS).


METHODS
A correlation study.


METHODS
A stroke unit which provides acute care and rehabilitation for all stroke admissions in Northern Alvsborg County Hospital, Sweden.


METHODS
Thirty consecutive patients with an acute first-time stroke. Seventeen were women and 13 were men, with a median age of 79 years (41-92) and with a median hospital stay of 21 days (8-35).


METHODS
The patients were assessed twice with the Swe M-EMS on admission and at discharge, before and after midday, by two independent physiotherapists. They were assessed by an independent physiotherapist using the three evaluation instruments on admission, once a week during their hospital stay and at discharge.


METHODS
The primary evaluation instrument was the Swe M-EMS. The two other evaluation instruments were the Modified Motor Assessment Scale of Uppsala Akademiska Sjukhus-95 (M-MAS UAS-95) and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS).


RESULTS
The Swe M-EMS was a reliable instrument (ICC 0.98-0.99). It correlated well with both the M-MAS UAS-95 (r(s) = 0.69-0.88) and the BBS (r(s) = 0.86-0.94). The Swe M-EMS was sensitive to change over time, but the patients obtained the maximum score quickly.


CONCLUSIONS
The instrument shows a high inter-rater reliability. The Swe M-EMS correlates well with both the M-MAS UAS-95 and the BBS and is sensitive to change. However, it is not sensitive enough to use as a single instrument in evaluating the improvement of a patient with acute stroke.
Linder
Annika
A
Northern Alvsborg County Hospital, Sweden. annika.linder@vgregion.se
Winkvist
Lisa
L
Nilsson
Lena
L
Sernert
Ninni
N
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D015588:Observer Variation; D010291:Paresis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013548:Sweden