HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chou, C.-Y. Articles by Hsieh, C.-L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chou, C.-Y. Articles by Hsieh, C.-L.

Developing a Short Form of the Berg Balance Scale for People With Stroke

CY Chou, OT, MS, is Lecturer, Department of Rehabilitation, Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Miaoli, Taiwan, and a doctoral student, Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
CW Chien, OT, BS, is Research Assistant, School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
IP Hsueh, OT, MA, is Assistant Professor, School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University
CF Sheu, PhD, is Professor, Department of Psychology, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan
CH Wang, PT, BS, is Associate Professor, School of Physical Therapy, College of Medical Technology, Chung Shan Medical University, and Department of Physical Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University Rehabilitation Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
CL Hsieh, OT, PhD, is Professor and Chair, School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University

(chwang{at}csmu.edu.tw) Address all correspondence to Mr Wang at School of Physical Therapy, College of Medical Technology, Chung Shan Medical University, 110, 1 Sec, Chien-Kuo N Rd, Taichung 402, Taiwan

Background and Purpose. To improve the utility of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the aim of this study was to develop a short form of the BBS (SFBBS) that was psychometrically similar (including test reliability, validity, and responsiveness) to the original BBS for people with stroke.

Subjects and Methods. A total of 226 subjects with stroke participated in this prospective study at 14 days after their stroke; 167 of these subjects also were examined at 90 days after their stroke. The BBS, Barthel Index, and Fugl-Meyer Motor Test were administered at these 2 time points. By reducing the number of tested items by more than half the number of items in the original BBS (ie, making 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-item tests) and simplifying the scoring system of the original BBS (ie, collapsing the 5-level scale into a 3-level scale [BBS-3P]), we generated a total of 8 SFBBSs.

Results. The distributions of scores for all 8 SFBBSs were acceptable but featured notable floor effects. The 4-item BBS, 5-item BBS, 5-item BBS-3P, and 7-item BBS-3P demonstrated good reliability. The subjects’ scores on the 6-item BBS, 6-item BBS-3P, 7-item BBS, and 7-item BBS-3P showed excellent agreement with those on the original BBS. The 6-item BBS-3P and 7-item BBS-3P exhibited great responsiveness. Only the 7-item BBS-3P demonstrated both satisfactory and psychometric properties similar to those of the original BBS.

Discussion and Conclusion. The 7-item BBS-3P was found to be psychometrically similar to the original BBS. The 7-item BBS-3P, compared with the original BBS, is simpler and faster to complete in either a clinical or a research setting and is recommended. [Chou CY, Chien CW, Hsueh IP, et al. Developing a short form of the Berg Balance Scale for people with stroke.

Key Words: Balance • Cerebrovascular disorders • Item reduction

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Blum and N. Korner-Bitensky Usefulness of the Berg Balance Scale in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review Physical Therapy, May 1, 2008; 88(5): 559 - 566. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C.-W. Chien, J.-H. Lin, C.-H. Wang, I-P. Hsueh, C.-F. Sheu, and C.-L. Hsieh Developing a Short Form of the Postural Assessment Scale for People With Stroke Neurorehabil Neural Repair, January 1, 2007; 21(1): 81 - 90. [Abstract] [PDF]