[Inter-rater reliability of the Barthel Index, the Activity Index, and the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living: The use of ADL instruments in stroke rehabilitation by medical and non medical personnel].

This investigation addressed the question whether non-medical personnel could produce similar ratings to physicians when applying ADL scales. A sports scientist was trained in the assessment of stroke patients with the Barthel Index, the Activity Index and the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living Scale. He and a rehabilitation physician assessed 20 stroke patients in first in-patient rehabilitation with these instruments. Measurements of inter-rater reliability were calculated for scores, subscales and single items, and for the latter also rater correspondence. Inter-rater reliability was good to excellent for all scores and subscales (ICC: 0.82-0.99). Reliability and correspondence was good to excellent for the items of the Barthel Scale, satisfactory to excellent for those of the Activity Index. Some 25 % of the items of the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living revealed unsatisfactory reliability but still high inter-rater correspondence. Results indicate that physicians and non-medical personnel are able to apply these scales reliably to stroke patients.