title: Validity and reliability of the Barthel index administered by telephone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate validity and reliability of the Barthel Index administered telephonically compared with face-to-face assessment in clinically stable patients with stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty-one patients were interviewed twice by 2 registered nurses with identical training. Half of the patients were randomized to receive the telephone interview followed by the face-to-face interview and half the contrary. The sequence of interviewers was randomized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median value of the Barthel Index score was 30 (first to third interquartile range, 15 to 80) by telephone and 35 (15 to 75) by face-to-face (P=0.29). The weighted κ was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.85 to 0.94); κ values ranged from 0.70 (0.58 to 0.82) for bowel control to 0.91 (0.83 to 0.99) for bathing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telephone assessment of stroke disability with the Barthel Index is reliable in comparison to direct face-to-face assessment.
authors.affiliation: SCDU Neurologia, Ospedale Maggiore della Carità, C. Mazzini 18-28100 Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Della Pietra
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Savio
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oddone
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reggiani
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.forename: Maurizio A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Leone
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D003142:Communication; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008875:Middle Aged; D009729:Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods; D013689:Telephone