Article

PURPOSE: To measure test-retest and interrater reliability of the Berg Balance
Scale (BBS) in community-dwelling adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease
(AD). Method : A sample of 15 adults (mean age 80.20 [SD 5.03] years) with AD
performed three balance tests: the BBS, timed up-and-go test (TUG), and
Functional Reach Test (FRT). Both relative reliability, using the intra-class
correlation coefficient (ICC), and absolute reliability, using standard error of
measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC95) values, were calculated;
Bland-Altman plots were constructed to evaluate inter-tester agreement. The
test-retest interval was 1 week. Results : For the BBS, relative reliability
values were 0.95 (95% CI, 0.85-0.98) for test-retest reliability and 0.72 (95%
CI, 0.31-0.91) for interrater reliability; SEM was 6.01 points and MDC95 was
16.66 points; and interrater agreement was 16.62 points. The BBS performed better
in test-retest reliability than the TUG and FRT, tests with established
reliability in AD. Between 33% and 50% of participants required cueing beyond
standardized instructions because they were unable to remember test instructions.
Conclusions : The BBS achieved relative reliability values that support its
clinical utility, but MDC95 and agreement values indicate the scale has
performance limitations in AD. Further research to optimize balance assessment
for people with AD is required.

Langue : ANGLAIS