Development and validation of the balance outcome measure for elder rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE

To develop and investigate the internal consistency, criterion-related validation, and minimum clinically significant difference of a new standing balance outcome measure for Elder Rehabilitation.

DESIGN

Three phases: (1) cross-sectional survey with expert panel, (2) multicenter prospective cohort randomly divided into development and validation datasets, and (3) prospective cohort (single site).

SETTING

Geriatric and rehabilitation units across 2 states in Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1769 admissions across 17 geriatric assessment and rehabilitation units.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The Balance Outcome Measure for Elder Rehabilitation (BOOMER) consisted of the step test, Timed Up & Go test, Functional Reach Test, and static standing with feet together and eyes closed test. Criterion-related validity was established through comparison to the Modified Elderly Mobility Scale (MEMS) and the FIM motor score.

RESULTS

Items of the BOOMER were already used at a majority of rehabilitation facilities surveyed. The BOOMER showed high levels of internal consistency (Cronbach alpha>.87) and had good correlation with the FIM motor and the MEMS (rho>.72). The minimum clinically significant change in the BOOMER was 3 points over a 17-point scale range.

CONCLUSIONS

The BOOMER is a clinically applicable measure of standing balance among older rehabilitation patients with evidence of content and construct validity.