Abstract
Purpose: To test the internal consistency and validity of a Swedish translation of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) 0–14 days and 3 months post stroke. Method: 37 persons were tested at 0–14 days (median 5 days) post stroke and 31 were retested 3 months later (median 87 days). In addition to the ABC, the Functional Ambulation Categories, modified Rivermead Mobility Index, timed up and go test, 10-meter timed walk, SF-36 and the 12-item Walking Scale were used. Results: The internal consistency was high at α = 0.94 to 0.97. Kendall correlation-τ coefficients were moderate and varied somewhat depending on time poststroke. At 0–14 days post stroke the highest correlation was found between the ABC and the 12-item Walking Scale (−0.55, p < 0.01). At 3 months poststroke, the correlations with the Functional Ambulation Categories was 0.49 (p < 0.01), timed up and go test −0.43 (p < 0.01), 10-meter timed walk −0.41 (p < 0.01), and modified Rivermead Mobility Index 0.46 (p < 0.01). Divergent validity was established by the non-significant correlation (0.12) between the ABC and SF-36 mental component summary. Conclusions: The Swedish version of ABC has high internal consistency and is valid for measuring balance confidence in the acute and sub acute phases of stroke.
The ABC is a valid measure of balance confidence in persons in the acute and sub acute phases after stroke.
A moderate convergent validity was found between the ABC and measures of physical function.
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to PT Lisa Corwi, Department of Physiotherapy at Örebro University for assistance with data collection.
Declaration of Interest: Funding for this study was received from the Research Committee in Örebro County Council and the Swedish Stroke Association. There are no conflicts of interest.