Article

The Early Functional Abilities scale assesses the restoration of brain
function after brain injury, based on 4 dimensions.
The primary objective of this
study was to evaluate the validity, objectivity, reliability and measurement
precision of the Early Functional Abilities scale by Rasch model item analysis. A
secondary objective was to examine the relationship between the Early Functional
Abilities scale and the Functional Independence Measurement, in order to
establish the criterion validity of the Early Functional Abilities scale and to
compare the sensitivity of measurements using the 2 instruments. METHODS: The
Rasch analysis was based on the assessment of 408 adult patients at admission to
sub-acute rehabilitation in Copenhagen, Denmark after traumatic brain injury.
RESULTS: The Early Functional Abilities scale provides valid and objective
measurement of vegetative (autonomic), facio-oral, sensorimotor and
communicative/cognitive functions. Removal of one item from the sensorimotor
scale confirmed unidimensionality for each of the 4 subscales, but not for the
entire scale. The Early Functional Abilities subscales are sensitive to
differences between patients in ranges in which the Functional Independence
Measurement has a floor effect. CONCLUSION: The Early Functional Abilities scale
assesses the early recovery of important aspects of brain function after
traumatic brain injury, but is not unidimensional. We recommend removal of the
"standing" item and calculation of summary subscales for the separate dimensions.

Langue : ANGLAIS