To explore the reliability and validity of the modified extended Barthel index (MEBI) scale in evaluating the ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) of stroke survivors.

A total of 175 stroke patients who met the inclusion criteria were evaluated using the MEBI scale, the Barthel index (BI), the mo-dified Barthel index (MBI), the extended Barthel index (EBI) and functional independence measures (FIM). The MEBI scale scores were related with the other measurements. The MEBI scale′s internal reliability, external reliability, content validity, calibration validity and construct validity were analyzed.

The functional level correspondence between the MEBI ratings and the other results was relatively clear. The Cronbach′s α of the MEBI scale was 0.937 and its Spearman-Brown correlation was 0.894. The scale′s test-retest ICC was 0.980 and its inter-rater ICC was 0.964. The ρ correlation coefficients between MEBI scale item scores and the total score were all greater than 0.5, and the ρ correlation coefficients between the MEBI scale scores and the EBI, MBI, BI and FIM results were all greater than 0.9. After rotation by the maximum variance method, three common factors could be extracted: self-care and mobility; cognition and emotion; and sphincter control.

The MEBI scale has a clear structure and excellent reliability and validity. It is well worth further exploration and application in clinical practice.

Stroke; Activities of daily living; Scale; Reliability; Validity