Intrarater and interrater reliability of the dynamic gait index in post stroke patients with eye movement disorders

Sana Batool; Hamayun Zafar; Syed Amir Gilani; Ashfaq Ahmad; Asif Hanif

doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.04.015

Intrarater and interrater reliability of the dynamic gait index in post stroke patients with eye movement disorders

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2023 Jul:35:38-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.04.015. Epub 2023 Apr 14.

Authors

Sana Batool¹, Hamayun Zafar², Syed Amir Gilani³, Ashfaq Ahmad⁴, Asif Hanif⁵

Affiliations

¹ University Institute of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: sana.fizza@gmail.com.
² University Institute of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Rehabilitation Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Odontology, Clinical Oral Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Umea University, Umea, Sweden. Electronic address: hzafar@ksu.edu.sa.
³ Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Director; Directorate of International Linkages, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: profgilani@gmail.com.
⁴ Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Head of Department University Institute of Physical Therapy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: ashfaaqpt@gmail.com.
⁵ University Institute of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: asif.hanif@ahs.uol.edu.pk.

PMID: 37330797
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.04.015

Abstract

Background: The Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) is a useful tool that has been evaluated for its reliability in patients with vestibular disorders, elderly people and, in chronic stroke population. Present study was aimed to evaluate the intrarater and interrater reliability of the DGI to measure dynamic balance and gait performance in stroke patients with eye movement disorders.

Methods: A sample of 30 stroke patients suffering from eye movement disorders were recruited. Two Physical therapists assessed the intrarater and interrater reliability of the DGI in two testing sessions three days apart. In the later session, two raters assessed the patients' performance simultaneously on the DGI. The reliability was calculated using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC2, 1). Standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC₉₅) at 95% confidence interval were also calculated. A significance level was set at p-value <0.05.

Results: The (ICC2, 1) for intrarater and interrater reliability of total DGI scores was 0.86 and 0.91 respectively. While (ICC2, 1) for intrarater and interrater reliability of individual items ranged from 0.73 to 0.91 to 0.73-0.93, respectively. The (SEM) and (MDC₉₅) for intrarater reliability of total DGI scores were 0.76 and 2.10, respectively. Corresponding values for interrater reliability were 0.62 and 1.71, respectively.

Conclusions: The DGI is a reliable tool for evaluating the dynamic balance and gait performance in stroke patients with eye movement disorders. This tool showed good to excellent intrarater and interrater reliability of total DGI scores and moderate to good intrarater and interrater reliability of individual items of the DGI.

Keywords: Dynamic balance; Dynamic gait index; Eye movement disorders; Reliability; Stroke.

MeSH terms

Aged
Gait
Humans
Ocular Motility Disorders*
Postural Balance
Reproducibility of Results
Stroke* / complications