Psychometric evaluation of Shah version of modified Barthel index in elderly people residing in Kashan Golabchi nursing home

Abstract

Background: The rehabilitation interventions have an important role in the promotion of elderly health level especially who are residing in nursing homes. This study was designed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Shah version of modified barthel index (MBI) in older people residing in Kashan Golabchi nursing home. Materials and Methods: The Shah version of MBI was translated from English to Persian through forward-backward translation method. Sampling was performed using census method in Kashan Golabchi nursing home during 2006-7 (n=100). The questionnaires were completed through interview, observation and inter-rater agreement coefficient was assessed. Reliability was determined via internal consistency and validity was determined via concurrent validity, exploratory factor analysis and known-groups approach. Results: Inter-rater reliability coefficient (Kappa) for every item was more than 0.6 Inter-rater reliability in the total MBI was 0.998. The questionnaire reliability coefficient (internal consistency) was 0.96-0.99 and item-total correlation confirmed its reliability too. Its concurrent validity with Persian original barthel index was confirmed (r=0.993, P<0.0001) and the known-groups approach revealed its validity (P<0.0001). The results of factor analysis signified its monofactoriality with Eigen value of 8.268 and the mentioned factor could explain the 82.68% of the total variance. Conclusion: The Persian Shah version of MBI for evaluation of disability in elderly people residing in Golabchi nursing home is a valid and reliable tool