Further validation of the Elderly Mobility Scale for measurement of mobility of hospitalized elderly people.

OBJECTIVE: To further assess the validity and inter-rater reliability of the Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS). Also whether the scale reflects elderly people's perceptions regarding their mobility, and whether it can predict discharge destination, or likelihood of falling.
DESIGN: Questionnaire-based study completed on admission and weekly after this on all patients referred to physiotherapy for mobility problems over the course of one month.
SETTING: Care of the elderly wards in the Bristol General Hospital.
SUBJECTS: Sixty-six patients (ages 66-69 years, 66% female) were included in the validity study. Nineteen patients (ages 71-95 years, 47% female) were included in the inter-rater reliability study.
INTERVENTIONS: EMS, Barthel and patients' perceptions of mobility were tested with routine physiotherapy treatment carried out as necessary. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Concurrent validity was assessed by correlating EMS scores with Barthel scores using Spearman's test. Inter-rater reliability was also tested using a Spearman's correlation. EMS scores of patients were also evaluated in conjunction with whether or not they fell and their destination on discharge.
RESULTS: A significant correlation between EMS and Barthel scores indicated concurrent validity. Inter-rater reliability was demonstrated on 19 patients with a significant correlation between scores. No predictive validity could be ascribed to EMS in terms of discharge destination or likelihood of falling. Results do indicate a possible predictive validity of the functional reach component of the EMS regarding the risk of future falls.
CONCLUSIONS: The EMS was found to be a valid scale with good inter-rater reliability that could be readily applied during daily clinical work. However, it was found to have no predictive validity in terms of falling or discharge destination.