title: Criterion validity and sensitivity to change of the Early Rehabilitation Index (ERI): results from a German multi-center study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evaluation of functional status is difficult in neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation patients. The Early Rehabilitation Index (ERI) was introduced in Germany over 20 years ago, but since then validation studies are lacking. The ERI (range -325 to 0 points) includes highly relevant items including the necessity of intermittent mechanical ventilation or tracheostomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present paper analyzed data from a German multi-center study, enrolling 754 neurological early rehabilitation patients. Together with ERI, Barthel Index (BI), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Glasgow Outcome Score Extended, Coma Remission Scale (CRS), Functional Ambulation Categories and length of stay were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ERI showed significant improvements from admission to discharge (p < 0.001). In addition, there were significant correlations of the ERI upon admission and at discharge with BI, CRS and GCS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluation of our study data suggest that the ERI may be used as a valid assessment instrument for neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Neurorehabilitation Research (InFo), BDH-Klinik Hessisch Oldendorf, Associated Institute of Hannover Medical School (MHH), Greitstr. 18-28, Hessisch Oldendorf, 31840, Germany. prof.rollnik@bdh-klinik-hessisch-oldendorf.de.
authors.forename: Jens D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rollnik
authors.affiliation: Kliniken Schmieder Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertram
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik Westend, Bad Wildungen, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bucka
authors.affiliation: Asklepios Schlossberg Klinik Bad König, Bad König, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hartwich
authors.affiliation: Brandenburg Klinik Bernau, Bernau bei Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jöbges
authors.affiliation: Neurologisches Rehabilitationszentrum "Godeshöhe"Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ketter
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik GmbH Bad Neustadt, Bad Neustadt, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leineweber
authors.affiliation: Schön Klinik Bad Aibling, Bad Aibling, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mertl-Rötzer
authors.affiliation: Helios Klinik Kipfenberg, Kipfenberg, Germany.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.affiliation: BDH-Klinik Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Platz
authors.affiliation: Hegau-Jugendwerk Gailingen, Gailingen, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Scheidtmann
authors.affiliation: Asklepios Kliniken Schildautal Seesen, Seesen, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Schön Klinik Bad Staffelstein, Bad Staffelstein, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: von Rosen
authors.affiliation: BDH-Klinik Elzach, Elzach, Germany.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wallesch
authors.affiliation: Neurologisches Rehabilitationszentrum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Woldag
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peschel
authors.affiliation: Klinik Bavaria Kreischa, Kreischa, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mehrholz
authors.affiliation: Klinik Schloss Pulsnitz, Pulsnitz, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pohl
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000066768:Rehabilitation Research; D012107:Research Design; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: ERI; Early Rehabilitation Index; Early rehabilitation; Validation