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Reliability of the Hierarchical Assessment of Balance and Mobility in Frail Older Adults
Author(s) -
Rockwood Kenneth,
Rockwood Michael R. H.,
Andrew Melissa K.,
Mitnitski Arnold
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01773.x
Subject(s) - medicine , inter rater reliability , intraclass correlation , reliability (semiconductor) , geriatrics , balance (ability) , ambulatory , gerontology , intra rater reliability , test (biology) , physical therapy , psychometrics , confidence interval , psychiatry , rating scale , psychology , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , power (physics) , physics , paleontology , quantum mechanics , biology
OBJECTIVES: To study the test–retest and interrater reliability of the Hierarchical Assessment of Balance and Mobility (HABAM) in frail older adults. DESIGN: Convenience sample of 167 frail older adults seen as part of routine care by an academic geriatrician at a tertiary care teaching hospital. SETTING: Inpatient medical and geriatric wards, geriatric ambulatory care clinic, emergency department, home visits. PARTICIPANTS: The interrater reliability sample consisted of 98 inpatients and 69 outpatients. The test–retest reliability sample tracked 63 of the inpatients over the first 2 days of their hospital stay. MEASUREMENTS: Mobility and balance were assessed using the HABAM. Frailty was assessed using a frailty index based on a standardized Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. Reliability was assessed using Pearson correlations and the intraclass correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The interrater reliability of the HABAM was 0.92 and ranged from 0.88 to 0.96 across settings for the various components (balance, transfers, mobility). Test–retest reliability was 0.91 (range 0.85–0.92). CONCLUSION: The HABAM appears to be a reliable means of assessing mobility and balance in frail older adults.