Measurement of functional ability following traumatic brain injury using the Clinical Outcomes Variable Scale: A reliability study

Abstract

This study determined the inter-tester and intra-tester reliability of physiotherapists measuring functional motor ability of traumatic brain injury clients using the Clinical Outcomes Variable Scale (COVS). To test inter-tester reliability, 14 physiotherapists scored the ability of 16 videotaped patients to execute the items that comprise the COVS. Intra-tester reliability was determined by four physiotherapists repeating their assessments after one week, and three months later. The intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were very high for both inter-tester reliability (ICC>0.97 for total COVS scores, ICC>0.93 for individual COVS items) and intra-tester reliability (ICC>0.97). This study demonstrates that physiotherapists are reliable in the administration of the COVS.