Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 105, Issue 12 , Pages 992-1000, 2006

Psychometric Properties of the Berg Balance Scale in a Community-dwelling Elderly Resident Population in Taiwan

  • Ching-Yi Wang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Therapy, Tzu-Chi College of Technology, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Ching-Yi Wang, Department of Physical Therapy, Tzu-Chi College of Technology, 880 Jen-Kuo Road, Section 2, Hualien 970, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ching-Lin Hsieh

      Affiliations

    • School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Sharon L. Olson

      Affiliations

    • School of Physical Therapy, Texas Women's University, Houston, Texas, USA
    • ,
  • Chun-Hou Wang

      Affiliations

    • School of Physical Therapy, College of Medical Technology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ching-Fan Sheu

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Cognitive Science, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chung-Chao Liang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Rehabilitation, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan

Received 4 November 2005; received in revised form 9 January 2006; accepted 6 June 2006.

Background/purpose

To investigate the psychometric properties (acceptability, internal consistency reliability, interrater reliability, construct validity) and identify the most challenging items of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for elderly people living in the community.

Methods

A total of 268 community-dwelling adults 65 years of age or older volunteered to participate in this study. Each subject's performance was assessed with the BBS, timed up and go (TUG) test, and usual gait speed. For testing interrater reliability, the other 68 community-dwelling older adults who met the criteria were also recruited.

Results

The BBS demonstrated good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's a = 0.77), good inter-rater reliability (ICC2,1 =0.87), and moderate correlation with the TUG and usual gait speed (Spearman's r = −0.53 and 0.46, respectively). The BBS score of the mobility/IADL (instrumented activities of daily living) able group was also significantly higher than that of the disabled group. Among all items on the BBS, tandem stance (item 13) and one-legged stance (item 14) were found to be the most challenging items for the subjects in the sample.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that the internal consistency reliability, interrater reliability, and construct validity of the BBS are adequate for measuring balance in community-dwelling older adults. Among all items in the BBS, the tandem stance and one-legged stance are the most challenging items. Further study of their applicability for screening use in the community is warranted.

Key Words:  Berg Balance Scale , community , older adults , psychometric testing

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PII: S0929-6646(09)60283-7

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(09)60283-7

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 105, Issue 12 , Pages 992-1000, 2006

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