Improving the Assessment of Outcomes in Stroke

Abstract

Background and Purpose— The modified Rankin Scale is widely used to assess changes in activity and lifestyle after stroke, but it has been criticized for its subjectivity. The purpose of the present study was to compare conventional assessment on the modified Rankin Scale with assessment through a structured interview. Methods— Sixty-three patients with stroke 6 to 24 months previously were interviewed and graded independently on the modified Rankin Scale by 2 observers. These observers then underwent training in use of a structured interview for the scale that covered 5 areas of everyday function. Eight weeks after the first assessment, the same observers reassessed 58 of these patients using the structured interview. Results— Interrater reliability was measured with the κ statistic (weighted with quadratic weights). For the scale applied conventionally, overall agreement between the 2 raters was 57% (κw=0.78); 1 rater assigned significantly lower grades than the other (P=0.048). On the structured interv...