[Operationalization and feasibility of the early rehabilitation index ("lower-saxony early rehabilitation index")].

This paper suggests an operationalization of the items of the early rehabilitation Barthel-index (ERBI). In addition, it presents a modification of this instrument, called lower-saxony ERBI (lsERBI). In order to validate the lsERBI, it has been used in 273 neurological rehabilitants. Findings suggest that the lsERBI has a higher specificity but lower sensitivity than the conventional ERBI. Inter-rater-reliability was high (r=0.84). Further studies are welcome to validate the lsERBI. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.