MONITORING STATUS AND EVALUATING OUTCOMES - AN OVERVIEW OF RATING-SCALES FOR USE WITH PATIENTS WHO HAVE SUSTAINED A STROKE

Evaluating outcomes of rehabilitation is currently an interest of both clinicians and researchers. This article reviews issues involved in c hoosing measures to assess outcomes and presents selected rating scale s for use with patients who have sustained a stroke. The psychometric properties of a measure as well as practical considerations should inf luence choice, Rating scales to assess impairments and basic activitie s of daily living are well developed and commonly used. Standardized s cales to assess instrumental activities or handicaps are scarce, where as measures of quality of life are available but seldom employed in st roke studies. Expanding the use of rating scales is important in clini cal practice and stroke research.