The Bed Bridge Test: a new functional test for hospital inpatients – a feasibility and measurement study

Abstract

Purpose

To develop and assess the Bed Bridge Test’s (BBT) feasibility, safety, and clinimetric properties and evaluate functional capacity in hospitalised patients.

Materials and methods

This feasibility and measurement study examined four BBT versions, including the timed-limited at 30 and 60 s and repetition-limited at 5 and 10 times, in hospitalised patients in a university hospital in Brazil. Ninety-two functionally stable patients with respiratory, gastrointestinal, or post-surgical conditions participated. Participants completed the BBT versions in a random order. BBT concurrent criterion validity was evaluated using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Sit-to-Stand (STS) test, and Functional Status Score (FSS).

Results

The participants were 51 ± 17 years old, 60% female, and 66% with clinical conditions. All participants completed the BBT versions without adverse events. Test–retest reliability was good–excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.87) for all BBT versions, with acceptable agreement parameters and minimal detectable changes. The time-limited versions of the BBT might be affected by a ceiling effect. Floor effects were minimal for all BBT versions. BBT showed moderate associations with SPPB and STS and weak associations with FSS.

Conclusions

The BBT is feasible and has promising measurement properties.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• The Bed Bridge Test (BBT) offers a valuable solution for healthcare professionals by addressing the limitations of existing functional tests, providing a straightforward assessment of functional capacity for both the patient and the assessor.

• The BBT has demonstrated excellent feasibility and safety, as all eligible participants completed its various versions without adverse events, indicating its potential utility across diverse patient populations.

• The BBT exhibits good to excellent reliability, indicating its reproducibility in clinical settings.

• The BBT has validated its effectiveness by exhibiting robust correlations with established functional tests such as the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and Sit-to-Stand (STS) test.

Keywords:

• Assessment
• disability evaluation
• exercise test
• hospitalisation
• measurement properties
• outcomes measures

Acknowledgements

Empresa Brasileira de Serviços Hospitalares from Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (EBSERH/HU UFJF) contributed to the feasibility of this study, and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazil, code 001, supported the graduate program. We want to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for editing the English language.

Author contributions

Conception and design: C. Malaguti, T.M. Paticcie, A. José, and S. Dal Corso. Statistical analysis: T.M.D. Oliveira and C.C. Oliveira. Collected data: T.M. Paticcie, L.G. Paiva, G.W.S. Silveira, and C.R. Pacheco. The initial draft of the manuscript: C. Malaguti and T.M. Paticcie. All authors contributed to data interpretation, critical review and revision of the manuscript, and final approval of the version to be published.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.