BACKGROUND: The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is a commonly used scale to assess the functional outcome after stroke. Several studies on mRS showed good reliability, feasibility, and interrater agreement of this scale using a face-to-face assessment. However, telephone assessment is a more time-efficient way to obtain an mRS grade than a face-to-face interview. The aim of this study was to validate the telephone assessment of mRS among the Portuguese using a structured interview in a sample of Brazilian stroke patients. METHODS: We evaluated 50 stroke outpatients twice. The first interview was face-to-face and the second was made by telephone and the time between the two assessments ranged between 7 and 14 days. Four certified raters evaluated the patients using a structured interview based on a questionnaire previously published in the literature. Raters were blinded for the Rankin score given by the other rater. For both assessments, the rater could also interview a caregiver if necessary. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 62.8 ± 14.7, mean number of years of study 5.2 ± 3.4, 52% were males, 55.2% of patients needed a caregiver's help to answer the questions. The majority of caregivers were female (85%), mean age 49.1 ± 15, and mean number of years of study 8.3 ± 3.4. Perfect agreement between the telephone and face-to-face assessments was obtained for 27 (54%) patients, corresponding to an unweighted Kappa of 0.44 (95% CI 0.27-0.61) and a weighted Kappa of 0.89. The median of telephone assessment mRS was 3.5 (interquartile range = 2-4) and of face-to-face assessment was 4 (interquartile range = 2-5). There was no difference between the two assessments (Wilcoxon test, p = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low education level of our sample, the telephone assessment of functional impairment of stroke patients using a translated and culturally adapted Brazilian Portuguese version of the mRS showed good validity and reliability. Therefore, the telephone assessment of mRS can be used in clinical practice and scientific studies in Brazil.
BACKGROUND: The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is a commonly used scale to assess the functional outcome after stroke. Several studies on mRS showed good reliability, feasibility, and interrater agreement of this scale using a face-to-face assessment. However, telephone assessment is a more time-efficient way to obtain an mRS grade than a face-to-face interview. The aim of this study was to validate the telephone assessment of mRS among the Portuguese using a structured interview in a sample of Brazilian strokepatients. METHODS: We evaluated 50 stroke outpatients twice. The first interview was face-to-face and the second was made by telephone and the time between the two assessments ranged between 7 and 14 days. Four certified raters evaluated the patients using a structured interview based on a questionnaire previously published in the literature. Raters were blinded for the Rankin score given by the other rater. For both assessments, the rater could also interview a caregiver if necessary. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 62.8 ± 14.7, mean number of years of study 5.2 ± 3.4, 52% were males, 55.2% of patients needed a caregiver's help to answer the questions. The majority of caregivers were female (85%), mean age 49.1 ± 15, and mean number of years of study 8.3 ± 3.4. Perfect agreement between the telephone and face-to-face assessments was obtained for 27 (54%) patients, corresponding to an unweighted Kappa of 0.44 (95% CI 0.27-0.61) and a weighted Kappa of 0.89. The median of telephone assessment mRS was 3.5 (interquartile range = 2-4) and of face-to-face assessment was 4 (interquartile range = 2-5). There was no difference between the two assessments (Wilcoxon test, p = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low education level of our sample, the telephone assessment of functional impairment of strokepatients using a translated and culturally adapted Brazilian Portuguese version of the mRS showed good validity and reliability. Therefore, the telephone assessment of mRS can be used in clinical practice and scientific studies in Brazil.
Authors: Mallika Purandare; Alexa N Ehlert; Henri Vaitkevicius; Barbara A Dworetzky; Jong Woo Lee Journal: Seizure Date: 2018-08-15 Impact factor: 3.184
Authors: Luiz Antonio Nasi; Sheila Cristina Ouriques Martins; Miguel Gus; Gustavo Weiss; Andrea Garcia de Almeida; Rosane Brondani; Letícia Costa Rebello; Angélica DalPizzol; Flávio Danni Fuchs; Maria Júlia Monteiro Valença; Letícia F Wirth; Gerson Nunes; Craig S Anderson Journal: Neurocrit Care Date: 2019-04 Impact factor: 3.210
Authors: Inger Havsteen; Christian Ovesen; Lasse Willer; Janus Damm Nybing; Karen Ægidius; Jacob Marstrand; Per Meden; Sverre Rosenbaum; Marie Norsker Folke; Hanne Christensen; Anders Christensen Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2018-01-21 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Bruno Gonçalves; Pedro Kurtz; Ricardo Turon; Thayana Santos; Marco Prazeres; Cassia Righy; Fernando Augusto Bozza Journal: Ann Intensive Care Date: 2019-08-20 Impact factor: 6.925