Assessment of Functional Status in Stroke Patients

Background and Purpose: Assessment of functional status in stroke patients is of major importance in both clinical practice and outcome studies. The Frenchay Activities Index has been developed specifically for measuring disability and handicap in stroke patients. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the metric properties of this instrument and to obtain normal values in a group of unselected elderly subjects. Methods: The Frenchay Activities Index was tested in a group of stroke patients and a group of unselected subjects aged 65 or older. The functional status of the stroke patients was measured 26 weeks after stroke. Their prestroke status was registered retrospectively. Reliability and validity of the instrument were assessed. Results: The mean scores in the prestroke, poststroke, and control group demonstrated differences in functional status. The reliability of unweighted scores (range of Cronbach's et-coefficients, 0.78 to 0.87)