A Modification of the Northwick Park ADL Index (The Australian ADL Index)

Abstract

A modification of the Northwick Park ADL Index is being used by the Daw House Rehabilitation Unit, Repatriation General Hospital, South Australia. The modifications include some changes to make the test more suitable for Australian conditions, more specific task components, and observation of actual performance of the tasks rather than of simulation. It is applied to all stroke patients admitted to the unit, under test conditions. Scores are entered into a computer program and may be printed as a histogram. The results are available to clinical staff for treatment planning and evaluation, and to research staff as a research instrument. Data are being collected to evaluate the use of the ADL Index to predict the outcome of rehabilitation.