Barthel Index
Pronunciation: BAR-thel IN-deks
A validated 10-item ordinal scale measuring a patient's functional independence in basic activities of daily living, widely used in geriatric rehabilitation settings.
Full Definition
The Barthel Index is one of the most widely used outcome measures in geriatric and stroke rehabilitation, assessing a patient's ability to perform ten basic activities of daily living including feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, bladder and bowel control, toilet use, transfers, ambulation, and stair climbing. Scores range from 0 (fully dependent) to 100 (fully independent), with higher scores indicating greater independence. Editors should capitalise both words — 'Barthel Index' — as it is a proper noun (named after Dorothea Barthel). It should not be shortened to 'Barthel score' in formal documents without first defining the full name, and it must not be confused with the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living, a separate instrument.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalise as 'Barthel Index'. 'Barthel score' is acceptable shorthand only after the full name has been introduced. Do not confuse with the Katz Index, which covers a slightly different item set.
In Context
- "A Barthel Index score of 40 on admission suggested significant dependence, with improvement to 75 at discharge." — Rehabilitation outcome report
- "The Barthel Index and the Functional Independence Measure were both administered to allow cross-study comparisons." — Clinical research methodology section