High inter-tester reliability of the new mobility score in patients with hip fracture.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the inter-tester reliability of the New Mobility Score in patients with acute hip fracture.


METHODS
An inter-tester reliability study.


METHODS
Forty-eight consecutive patients with acute hip fracture at a median age of 84 (interquartile range, 76-89) years; 40 admitted from their own home and 8 from nursing homes to an acute orthopaedic hip fracture unit at a university hospital.


METHODS
The New Mobility Score, which evaluates the prefracture functional level with a score from 0 (not able to walk at all) to 9 (fully independent), was assessed by 2 independent physiotherapists at the orthopaedic ward. Inter-tester reliability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC1.1) and the standard error of measurement (SEM).


RESULTS
The ICC between the 2 physiotherapists was 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96-0.99 and the SEM was 0.42, 95% CI -0.40-1.24 New Mobility Score points. No systematic between-rater bias was observed (p>0.05). Patients who were scored differently by the 2 physiotherapists had significantly lower mental scores (p=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The inter-tester reliability of the New Mobility Score is very high and can be recommended to evaluate the prefracture functional level in patients with acute hip fracture.
Kristensen
Morten Tange
MT
Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. morten.tange.kristensen@hvh.regionh.dk
Bandholm
Thomas
T
Foss
Nicolai Bang
NB
Ekdahl
Charlotte
C
Kehlet
Henrik
H