ESTIMATION OF BALANCE STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH HEMIPARESIS: AN ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK IMPLEMENTATION.

ObjectiveAlthough Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) is an important balance assessment tool to differentiate balance deficits, it is time consuming and tiring for hemiparetic patients. Using artificial neural networks (ANNs) to estimate balance status can be a practical and useful tool for clinicians. The aim of this study was to compare manual BESTest results and ANNs predictive results and to determine the highest contributions of BESTest sections by using ANNs predictive results of BESTest sections. METHODS: 66 hemiparetic individuals were included in the study. Balance status was evaluated using the BESTest. 70% (n = 46), of the dataset was used for learning, 15% (n = 10) for evaluation, and 15%(n = 10) for testing purposes in order to model ANNs. Multiple linear regression models (MLRs) were used to compare with ANNs. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that ANNs(root mean square error-RMSE:4.993) were better than MLR (RMSE:7.031) model to estimate balance status of patients with hemiparesis. The BESTest sections making lowest and highest contribution to BESTest total score was found to be "Stability Limits/Verticality" and "Stability in Gait" sections, respectively. As the highest and the lowest contribution of sections items were investigated it was found that error(RMSE) values were small indicating the success of ANN modeling. DISCUSSION: The results obtained from this study showed that RMSE values of ANNs were better than the ones found in literature. It is believed that this study can lead to constitute a shorter, more sensitive and more practical mini subset of BESTest for physiotherapists to differentiate balance problems while carrying the whole philosophy of the full BESTest.

The Turkish version of the Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire in patients with chronic neck pain: a cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity study.

INTRODUCTION: The cultural adaptation of a self-report measurement in different languages is important for developing common strategies for evaluation and treatment. The Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire (NBQ), which was developed to evaluate patients with neck pain, was adapted from the Bournemouth Questionnaire in accordance with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) categories. The aim of this study was to conduct the Turkish cultural adaptation, validity and reliability study of the NBQ. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 119 patients (93 females, 26 males; mean age: 37.2 ±11.8 years) with chronic nonspecific neck pain. The NBQ, Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) questionnaires were administered to all the subjects. Test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) and the internal consistency (Cronbach's α) were the methods used for the reliability study. The relationship between NBQ, NDI and NHP was investigated for concurrent validity. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used for construct validity. RESULTS: The Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire showed good internal consistency (α = 0.87). The test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.913 (95% CI: 0.875-0.940). The correlations between NBQ and NDI and NHP were significant (p < 0.05). The questionnaire was found to have one factor and the explained variance was 59.084% as a result of factor analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire is a valid and reliable scale for patients with chronic neck pain in the Turkish population.

Cross-cultural adaptation, validity, and reliability of the Turkish version of Assistance to Participate Scale.

BACKGROUND: The Assistance to Participate Scale is a questionnaire to evaluate activity participation of children with developmental disabilities. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Assistance to Participate Scale. METHODS: Ninety-eight mothers' children with developmental disabilities were included in this study. The Assistance to Participate Scale, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory were applied to all subjects. To evaluate reliability, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, minimal detectable change (MDC) with standard error of measurement (SEM), and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for test-retest were used. The relationship between Assistance to Participate Scale, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory was investigated, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used for construct validity. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was found.93, demonstrating that this value has excellent internal consistency. Test-retest reliability was found 0.99 (ICC 95% CI [0.995, 0.998]; SEM:0.57, MDC:1.58). For construct validity, the correlations between Assistance to Participate Scale, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory total scores and items were significant (p < .001). Factor analysis showed that the questionnaire had unidimensional and the explained variance was 0.84%. CONCLUSIONS: The Turkish version of the Assistance to Participate Scale is valid and reliable scale for children with developmental disabilities.