European Portuguese version of the Mini-BESTest: a cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric measurements in individuals with sensorimotor impairments.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Mini-BESTest into European Portuguese and to evaluate its psychometric properties in individuals with sensorimotor impairments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional cross-cultural adaptation and validation study was conducted according to the COSMIN guidelines and the STROBE statement. The study included 100 participants with sensorimotor impairments who were able to walk 6 m. Cronbach's alpha and item-total correlations were used to assess internal consistency. Interpretability was assessed by examining floor and ceiling effects and skewness. To investigate construct validity, Spearman correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman analysis were performed to compare the Berg Balance Scale and the Mini-BESTest Inter- and intra-rater reliability were assessed by calculating the ICC, SEM and MDC based on video recordings of the participants during the Mini-BESTest assessments. RESULTS: The European Portuguese Mini-BESTest showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.892) and no significant floor or ceiling effects. Excellent inter- and intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.97) were also demonstrated, with MDC of 2.58 and 2.57, respectively. Furthermore, this instrument showed a significant correlation with the BBS (r = 0.902). Bland-Altman analysis showed small absolute differences. CONCLUSION: The European Portuguese Mini-BESTest is comparable to the original English version in terms of validity and reliability and is therefore highly recommended for use by Portuguese-speaking professionals to assess postural control.

The Mini-BESTest, increasingly recommended for addressing impaired postural control, has undergone its first comprehensive cross-cultural adaptation into European Portuguese.The Mini-BESTest may be a superior assessment tool compared to others because it can identify the specific postural control system that is impaired.In a clinical setting, the Mini-BESTest will aid in the development of appropriate intervention approaches, tailoring rehabilitation interventions to the specific needs of each patient.The Mini-BESTest is recommended for use by Portuguese-speaking professionals to assess postural control, as it has demonstrated good internal consistency, excellent inter- and intra-rater reliability, and significant correlation with the Berg Balance Scale.