ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The functional status of elerly has been measured by mamy measures including Karz ADL index, Karz ADL index and physical self-maintenace scale. Amon them, Karz ADL index has been widely used in many countries because of easiness to scoring and adminstration. So we translated Karz ADL index and tested the translation validity, psychometric properties(validity and reliability) of Korean version of Karz ADL index. METHODS: The Karz ADL index was translated by multidisciplinary committee members. The quality of translation was rated by committee members using three criteria(clarity, use of common language, conceptual equivalence). Reliability was tested by internal consistency(Cronbach's alpha), two weeks test-retest reliability, intraobserver agreement. Clinical validity and construct validity comparison with brain disability grade were tested for validity testing. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha was 0.90. 2 weeks test-retest correlations coefficient was 0.94(p=0.00). Interrator agreements were high in all 10 items( =0.79 0.96). Normal control group had lower scores than patients group(p=0.000). Correlation coefficients between Korean version of Karz ADL index score and brain-disability grade was -0.68(p=0.000). CONCLUSION: Korean version of Karz ADL index is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring functional status of elderly.