Sueli Satie Hamada Jucá

Validação da versão brasileira da Medida de Independência Funcional

Introduction: the Brazilian version of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was developed in the 2000. Studies of validity is still required in order corroborate its use in rehabilitation assessment of Brazilian individuals, since local peculiarities may determine differences in the data provided by such instrument. Objectives: the aim of this study is test construct validity of the FIM by checking its convergent validity in groups of patients with impairments expected to develop specific levels of disability. Methods: Medical charts of 150 SCI and 103 hemiplegic patients from 2 rehabilitation centers in Sao Paulo provided data about demographic characteristics, clinical and functional features. The level of disability was evaluated by the Functional Independence Measure. Traumatic SCI patients were classified according to the level of injury as cervical, thoracic and lumbar or below. Hemiplegic patients were classified according to the side of motor impairment as right, left or bilateral.