The Correlation Between Disability Rating Scale and Functional Independence Measure Questionnaire in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients on Admission and at Discharge During Hospitalization

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common disorder among neurological conditions which effects on patient’s functional and mental abilities. The quality of these abilities correlate with patient’s quality of life and specially their intervention demands. Many measurement instruments could be used to assess patient’s functional status and community integration after their affection. Disability rating scale (DRS) and functional independence measure (FIM) are known as two reliable questionnaires to tracking TBI individuals changes from coma to community. In this study we looked for the correlation between DRS and FIM scores in TBI patients at admission and discharge phase. Materials & Methods: Sixty-two patients with different TBI severity score who had referred to Poursina hospital were included to this study. The FIM and DRS questionnaires had been used to measure the patient’s physical disabilities at admission and discharge phase. The FIM has 18 items divided to 2 classifications; 1. Motor functions; 2. Cognitive functions. The maximum score a patient can gain on the FIM is 126 (completely independent) and the minimum score is 18 for a complete dependent person. The DRS has 8 items separated into 4 categories; 1. Arousal and awareness (Eye Opening, Communication Ability and Motor Response); 2. Cognitive ability to perform self-care functions (Feeding, Toileting and Grooming); 3. Functional dependence; 4. Employability. The range of scores are between 29 for the patient with severe state and 0 for no disability.Results: Statistical analysis with SPSS version 23.0 showed high and reverse correlation between FIM and DRS total scores mean at admission (R= -%90) and similar correlation at discharge (R= -%62) phase. Conclusion: There is high percentage of correlation between FIM and DRS questionnaires scores to assessing TBI patient’s disabilities at admission and discharge phase.

Keywords:

Traumatic brain injury , Disability , Questionnaire , Independence