Cross-cultural adaptation and analysis of the psychometric properties of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test and MiniBESTest in the elderly and individuals with Parkinson's disease: application of the Rasch model.

BACKGROUND: Older adults and individuals with neurological problems such as Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit balance deficits that might impair their mobility and independence. The assessment of balance must be useful in identifying the presence of instability and orient interventions. OBJECTIVE: To translate and perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and MiniBESTest to Brazilian Portuguese and analyze its psychometric properties. METHOD: The tests were translated and adapted to Portuguese according to a standard method and then subjected to a test-retest reliability assessment (10 older adults; 10 individuals with PD). The psychometric properties were assessed by the Rasch model (35 older adults; 35 individuals with PD). RESULTS: The reliability coefficient of the tests relative to the items and subjects varied from 0.91 and 0.98, which is indicative of the stability and reproducibility of the measures. In the BESTest, the person (4.19) and item (5.36) separation index established six balance ability levels and seven levels of difficulty, respectively. In the MiniBESTest, the person (3.16) and item (6.41) separation index established four balance ability levels and nine levels of difficulty, respectively. Two items in the BESTest did not fit with the model expectations, but the construct validity was not compromised. No item in the MiniBESTest was erratic. CONCLUSIONS: The results corroborate the diagnostic and screening functions of the BESTest and MiniBESTest, respectively, and indicate that the Brazilian versions exhibit adequate reliability, construct validity, response stability, and capacity to distinguish among various balance ability levels in older adults and individuals with PD.

Cross-cultural adaptation and analysis of the psychometric properties of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test and MiniBESTest in the elderly and individuals with Parkinson's disease: application of the Rasch model / Adaptação transcultural e análise das propriedades psicométricas do Balance Evaluation Systems Test e do MiniBESTest em idosos e indivíduos com doença de Parkinson: aplicação do modelo Rasch

BACKGROUND: Older adults and individuals with neurological problems such as Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit balance deficits that might impair their mobility and independence. The assessment of balance must be useful in identifying the presence of instability and orient interventions. OBJECTIVE: To translate and perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and MiniBESTest to Brazilian Portuguese and analyze its psychometric properties. METHOD: The tests were translated and adapted to Portuguese according to a standard method and then subjected to a test-retest reliability assessment (10 older adults; 10 individuals with PD). The psychometric properties were assessed by the Rasch model (35 older adults; 35 individuals with PD). RESULTS: The reliability coefficient of the tests relative to the items and subjects varied from 0.91 and 0.98, which is indicative of the stability and reproducibility of the measures. In the BESTest, the person (4.19) and item (5.36) separation index established six balance ability levels and seven levels of difficulty, respectively. In the MiniBESTest, the person (3.16) and item (6.41) separation index established four balance ability levels and nine levels of difficulty, respectively. Two items in the BESTest did not fit with the model expectations, but the construct validity was not compromised. No item in the MiniBESTest was erratic. CONCLUSIONS: The results corroborate the diagnostic and screening functions of the BESTest and MiniBESTest, respectively, and indicate that the Brazilian versions exhibit adequate reliability, construct validity, response stability, and capacity to distinguish among various balance ability levels in older adults and individuals with PD. .

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: Idosos e indivíduos com problemas neurológicos, como a doença de Parkinson (DP), apresentam déficits de equilíbrio que podem comprometer a mobilidade e independência. A avaliação do equilíbrio deve identificar a instabilidade e direcionar a intervenção. OBJETIVOS: Traduzir e adaptar transculturalmente o Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) e o MiniBESTest para o português-Brasil e analisar suas propriedades psicométricas. MÉTODO: Os testes foram traduzidos e adaptados para o português seguindo instruções padronizadas e foram submetidos à análise de confiabilidade teste-reteste (dez idosos; dez indivíduos com DP). As propriedades psicométricas foram avaliadas pela análise Rasch (35 idosos; 35 indivíduos com DP). RESULTADOS: Os coeficientes de confiabilidade dos testes para itens e indivíduos variaram de 0,91 a 0,98, indicando estabilidade e possibilidade de reprodução das medidas em aplicações subsequentes. No BESTest, os índices de separação dos indivíduos (4,19) e dos itens (5,36) determinaram, respectivamente, seis níveis de habilidade de equilíbrio e sete níveis de dificuldade. No MiniBESTest, os índices dividiram os indivíduos (3,16) em quatro níveis de habilidade e os itens (6,41) em nove níveis de dificuldade. Dois itens do BESTest não se adequaram às expectativas do modelo, o que não comprometeu sua validade de constructo. No MiniBESTest não houve item errático. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados dão suporte à função de diagnóstico e triagem para o BESTest e MiniBESTest, respectivamente, e sugerem que as versões brasileiras apresentam adequada confiabilidade, ...