Intrarater Reliability of Catherine Bergego Scale and Albert’s Test in Chronic Stroke Patients With Unilateral Spatial Neglect

Background: Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) frequently occurs following a right hemisphere stroke, leading to impaired awareness of one side of the body. This condition affects daily activities despite intact motor and sensory functions. The Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS) and Albert's Test are tools used to assess USN severity, but their reliability needs further investigation. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the intra-rater reliability of the Catherine Bergego Scale and Albert's Test in chronic stroke patients with unilateral spatial neglect. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to March 2024 across three hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. Using non-probability convenient sampling, 218 chronic stroke patients aged 50 to 80 years were recruited. Participants exhibited signs of USN but had no severe cognitive impairments or concurrent neurological conditions. The CBS and Albert's Test were administered by trained raters in controlled settings. The reliability of these assessments was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficients, and statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 25. Results: The CBS showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.737, indicating acceptable reliability. Albert's Test demonstrated a Cronbach's alpha of 0.931, reflecting excellent reliability. These findings support the consistency and dependability of both assessment tools in evaluating USN severity. Conclusion: The study confirmed that the CBS and Albert's Test are reliable tools for assessing USN in chronic stroke patients, facilitating accurate diagnosis and tailored rehabilitation interventions.