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Reliability of the Functional Independence Measure with Occupational Therapists
Author(s) -
Fricke Janet,
Unsworth Carolyn,
Worrell Diane
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
australian occupational therapy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1630
pISSN - 0045-0766
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1630.1993.tb01770.x
Subject(s) - toileting , functional independence measure , intraclass correlation , physical therapy , reliability (semiconductor) , psychology , occupational therapy , rating scale , inter rater reliability , activities of daily living , physical medicine and rehabilitation , medicine , psychometrics , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
This paper reports an inter‐rater reliability study on the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). The FIM measures inpatient burden of care, as reflected in 18 self care items, rated on a seven point scale from dependent to independent. The subjects were 40 occupational therapists, divided according to experience with the FIM and randomly assigned to a FIM training or non‐training group. Subjects rated video tapes of four stroke patients on transfers, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting and eating items from the FIM. Rater consensus was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), percentage agreement and a measure of disagreement. Rating accuracy was measured by comparisons with an expert rater. Ratings were most reliable when done by clinicians with no prior FIM experience, from the FIM training group. It is strongly recommended that all clinicians undergo FIM training before using this tool to ensure acceptable reliability.