Validity and Reliability of the 4 Meter Walk Test in Parkinson Disease
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the 4-meter walk test (4MWT) in people with Parkinson disease (PD). Method: Gait velocity was measured in 25 people with PD using a computerized walkway, 10-meter walk test (10MWT), and 4-meter walk test (4MWT) under three conditions: comfortable walking speed (CWS), fast walking speed (FWS), dual task (DT). Video recording was used to assess intrarater and interrater reliability of the 4MWT. Pearson’s correlation assessed validity and the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC (2,1)) assessed intrarater and interrater reliability. Results: There was a significant correlation between the computerized walkway and the 4MWT for all conditions, CWS (r = 0.87, p < 0.001), FWS (r = .67, p = 0.002), and DT (r = .78, p < 0.001). There was significant correlation between the 10MWT and the 4MWT for all conditions, CWS (r = 0.80, p < 0.001), FWS (r = .66, p < 0.001), and DT (r = .50, p = 0.013). All reliability tests were significant at p < 0.001. Intrarater reliability values were very high for CWS (ICC (2,1) = 0.91, [.73-.97]), FWS (ICC (2,1) = 0.99, [0.98-0.99]), and DT (ICC (2,1) = 0.96, [ 0.88-0.98]). Interrater reliability values were high for CWS (ICC (2,1) = 0.90, [0.73-0.96]), FWS (ICC (2,1) = 0.99, [0.98-0.99]), and DT (ICC (2,1) = 0.95, [0.87-0.98]). Conclusion: The 4MWT is a valid and reliable tool to measure gait velocity in individuals with PD.
DOI: 10.29245/2767-5122/2025/3.1154 View / Download PdfAddressing Health Worker Burnout to Improve the Quality of Patient Care
Burnout can contribute to poor health worker functioning, although its true impact on the quality of patient care is not well understood. The demanding nature of the healthcare environment necessitates health workers to make cognitive and behavioral efforts to cope with and ensure longevity in service. Thus, this review explored the available evidence on the mechanisms involved in addressing work stress and burnout in the healthcare workplace. Several individual coping mechanisms and institutional interventions have been identified. Further studies are needed to establish the effectiveness of documented interventions in reducing burnout and improving job performance and quality of care.
DOI: 10.29245/2767-5122/2025/3.1151 View / Download Pdf