The Barthel Score Calculator evaluates a patient’s competence in ten basic activities of daily living. Each activity is scored based on the individual’s need for assistance, with a higher score indicating greater independence. The cumulative score helps determine the appropriate level of care and aids in treatment planning.
Formula of Barthel Score Calculator
The formula for the Barthel Index is:
Where:
- Activity Score_i represents the score for each of the ten activities assessed, including feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, bowel control, bladder control, toilet use, transfers (bed to chair and back), mobility (on level surfaces), and stair climbing.
- The scores for each activity range from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates the need for total assistance and 10 indicates complete independence.
Table: Activity Scoring Guide for Barthel Index
Below is a table that outlines each activity evaluated by the Barthel Score Calculator along with the scoring criteria:
| Activity | Score | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Feeding | 0-10 | 0 = Unable, 5 = Needs help, 10 = Independent |
| Bathing | 0-10 | 0 = Dependent, 10 = Independent |
| Grooming | 0-10 | 0 = Needs help, 10 = Independent |
| Dressing | 0-10 | 0 = Unable, 5 = Needs help, 10 = Independent |
| Bowel control | 0-10 | 0 = Incontinent, 10 = Continent |
| Bladder control | 0-10 | 0 = Incontinent, 10 = Continent |
| Toilet use | 0-10 | 0 = Dependent, 5 = Needs some help, 10 = Independent |
| Transfers | 0-10 | 0 = Unable, 5 = Needs major help, 10 = Independent |
| Mobility | 0-10 | 0 = Immobile, 5 = Wheelchair independent, 10 = Walks without help |
| Stair climbing | 0-10 | 0 = Unable, 5 = Needs help, 10 = Independent |
Example of Barthel Score Calculator
Scenario:
Imagine a patient named John, who is recovering from a severe leg injury. His physical therapist uses the Barthel Score to evaluate his recovery progress and functional independence.
Assessment and Scoring:
- Feeding: John can eat independently using some adaptive utensils. Score: 10
- Bathing: Needs assistance with bathing tasks. Score: 5
- Grooming: Can groom himself with little assistance. Score: 10
- Dressing: Requires help with putting on socks and shoes. Score: 5
- Bowel control: Fully continent. Score: 10
- Bladder control: Occasional accidents. Score: 5
- Toilet use: Can use the toilet independently but needs some help getting to the bathroom. Score: 5
- Transfers: Needs minimal assistance to move from bed to wheelchair. Score: 5
- Mobility: Uses a wheelchair independently. Score: 5
- Stair climbing: Unable to climb stairs. Score: 0
Calculation:
Barthel Index = 10 (Feeding) + 5 (Bathing) + 10 (Grooming) + 5 (Dressing) + 10 (Bowel control) + 5 (Bladder control) + 5 (Toilet use) + 5 (Transfers) + 5 (Mobility) + 0 (Stair climbing) = 60
Conclusion:
John’s total Barthel Score is 60, indicating he has moderate independence but still requires assistance with several activities. This score helps the rehabilitation team focus on specific areas where John needs further improvement to regain full independence.
FAQs
A1: A score of 95 to 100 is consider very good, indicating that the patient is almost or completely independent in daily activities.
A2: Yes, the Barthel Index is often use to assess if a patient is ready to be discharged from the hospital based on their level of independence.
A3: It is typically recalculated at regular intervals during a patient’s stay in a healthcare facility to monitor progress and update care plans.