Utility of the functional assessment inventory in a post-stroke sample

The objectives of this study were to describe the psychometric properties of the Functional Assessment Inventory in a sample of vocational service clients who had sustained strokes. Using rating scale analysis, we found that a 4-point rating scale was not useful in distinguishing performance on four items; rescoring these items enhanced the reliability of the measure. Four strata of clients could be distinguished: high, above average, below average, and low. The Inventory shows evidence of concurrent validity because it distinguishes stroke subtypes. It also has predictive validity - it distinguishes clients with different vocational outcomes. With only minor modifications, the instrument is useful in describing the vocational potential of clients following stroke.