Validation of a new measure for post-acute rehabilitation

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and validate a brain injury outcome measure with sufficient discriminatory power for use in a post-acute rehabilitation setting. A 56-item questionnaire – the Postacute Rehabilitation Measure (PARM) – covering disability and participation restriction was validated against the Functional Independence Measure and Functional Assessment Measure (FIM+FAM) using both carers and the rehabilitation team as respondents. Participants were 67 patients with acquired brain injury from 12 post-acute rehabilitation facilities. PARM showed a lower mean score than FIM+FAM on all sections except emotions. Correlations between sections of PARM and FIM+FAM ranged 0.63–0.89. Test–retest reliability ranged 0.84–0.97. Inter-rater reliability (carer vs team) was more variable. PARM is therefore a reliable and valid measure for post-acute outpatient rehabilitation that has the advantage of being completed by either the carer or the team. It shows fewer ceiling effects than FIM+FAM in this population.