Assessments of interrater reliability and internal consistency of the Norwegian version of the Berg Balance Scale.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the interrater reliability and the internal consistency of the Norwegian version of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) when applied to patients in a geriatric department.


METHODS
Interrater reliability was measured using the kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).


METHODS
Geriatric rehabilitation unit and geriatric day hospital in Norway.


METHODS
Eighty-three patients were included; 25 were inpatients in a geriatric rehabilitation unit, whereas 58 were admitted to a geriatric day hospital.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
The BBS.


RESULTS
The kappa values for the different BBS items varied from 0.83 to 1.00, and the ICC for the sum score of the BBS was .998 (95% confidence interval, .996-.999). The mean value of the BBS was 44.4. There was a negative significant relation between age and the sum score (r=-.36). The sum scores of BBS ranged from 12 to 56. The patients were able to perform the BBS without ceiling effect. The score values 3 and 4 were more frequently used than the score values 0, 1, and 2.


CONCLUSIONS
The Norwegian version of the BBS seems to have an excellent interrater reliability and high internal consistency when applied to patients in geriatric rehabilitation.
Halsaa
Karin E
KE
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. karin.halsaa@ulleval.no
Brovold
Therese
T
Graver
Vibeke
V
Sandvik
Leiv
L
Bergland
Astrid
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D005853:Geriatrics; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D009664:Norway; D015588:Observer Variation; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D004856:Postural Balance; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014175:Translating