Iranian Version of Barthel Index: Validity and Reliability in Outpatients’ Elderly

Abstract

Background: Validation study of Barthel Index for elderly patients being attended in outpatient and rehabilitation clinics in Iran.

Methods: Face‑to‑face interview with 395 out patients geriatric 60+ years was done in a cross‑sectional study. The internal consistency Barthel‑ADL was used to approve reliability. Criterion validity and factor analysis were used to verify validity.

Results: Reliability the Iranian version BI was significant at 0.938. In criterion validity analysis, the high correlation tools included Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM‑subscales ADL) at 0.947 and –0.945, respectively. In factor analyses, two domains obtained, the variance of 10 items achieved 69.79%; also, the Item Total Correlation (ITC) of each item was measured.

Conclusions: The Barthel Index shows a good validity and reliability, and recommended to use in the Iranian geriatric outpatients in evaluating physical ability.

Keywords: Barthel-ADL, elderly, geriatric outpatients, Iran, validity