The Concurrent Validity Of The 7-Item BBS 3P With Other Clinical Measures Of Balance In A Sample Of Elderly Community-Dwelling Adults

Effective balance screening and treatment is vital to minimise the potential detrimental effects that may result from unidentified and untreated balance impairment in the vulnerable community-dwelling elderly population. Therefore, an appropriate screening measure for balance with established psychometric properties, is required for use in the community-dwelling elderly population. This research study aims to address the gap in the current evidence base, by identifying the psychometric properties of the 7-item BBS-3P and determining its suitability as a clinical measure in community-dwelling adults over the age of 65.

Aims and objectives:

The aim of this study was to investigate the concurrent validity of the 3-level 7-item Berg Balance Scale (7-item BBS-3P) with other clinical measures of balance in a sample of elderly community-dwelling adults. The objectives of the study were to:

- Identify the strength of a positive correlation between the 7-item BBS-3P and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS);

- Identify if the 7-item BBS-3P positively correlates with the Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest);

- Identify if the BBS positively correlates with the Mini-BESTest;

- Determine if the 7-item BBS-3P can be used interchangeably with the BBS.

Methods:

This cross sectional study examined the correlations between the 7-Item BBS 3P, BBS and Mini BESTest, in 30 elderly community-dwelling adults, aged 69 to 90 years. Outcome measures included the 7-Item BBS 3P, BBS and the Mini-BESTest.

Results:

Significant correlations were demonstrated between the 7-Item BBS 3P, BBS and Mini BESTest. The strongest correlation was found between the 7-item BBS-3P and the BBS, which was highly correlated (ρ=0.84, p

Conclusion:

These results confirm that the 7-Item BBS 3P correlates highly with the BBS and moderately with the Mini BESTest in a sample of community-dwelling elderly adults. This demonstrates that the 7-Item BBS 3P measures the same functional construct of balance as the BBS and that the 7-Item BBS 3P can be used as a screening tool for balance impairment in the elderly. However, the 7-Item BBS 3P and BBS cannot be used interchangeably as demonstrated by the correlation values. Further research is needed to establish normative, MDC and cut-off data for the 7-Item BBS 3P.

Implications of findings:

The 7-Item BBS 3P, BBS and Mini-BESTest, may be used as screening tools for balance ability in the community-dwelling elderly. The 7-Item BBS 3P cannot be used interchangeably with the BBS.