Comparison of the responsiveness of the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation (USER) and the Barthel Index in stroke patients.

To compare the responsiveness of the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation (USER) to the responsiveness of the Barthel Index in stroke patients in an inpatient rehabilitation facility. Observational study. Inpatient rehabilitation facility. Consecutive stroke patients admitted for clinical rehabilitation. Not applicable. The USER and the Barthel Index were administered by a nurse at admission and discharge. The Effect Size and Standardized Response Mean (SRM) were calculated as measures of responsiveness. From 198 (78%) of the 254 patients who were included in the study period, both admission and discharge data were available. At admission the mean score of the USER subscale Functional independence was 43.1 ( In inpatient rehabilitation after stroke, the USER was less responsive than the Barthel Index.