Comparison of In-person and Asynchronous Tele-assessments for the Timed Up and Go Test in Adults Aged 50 and Above in a Saudi Community

Introduction: The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is a widely accepted tool for evaluating physical function in older adults. TUG is traditionally conducted in clinical settings through in-person appointments. However, barriers such as living in rural areas or facing limited healthcare access have driven the exploration of tele-assessments. This study aims to assess the agreement between asynchronous tele-assessments and in-person assessments of the TUG test for adults aged 50 and older in a Saudi community. Methods: A cross-over comparative study involving 33 participants aged 50 years and older was conducted. Each participant underwent both asynchronous tele-assessment and in-person assessment of the TUG test on the same day. The agreement between the two methods was evaluated using a paired t-test, Bland-Altman analysis, and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC). The ICC was calculated using a two-way random-effects model (ICC(2,1)). Results: The mean scores obtained using the two methods were comparable with statistically insignificant differences, with excellent agreement indicated by an ICC(2,1) of 0.988 (95% CI: 0.976–0.994). Bland-Altman plots further confirmed that the differences were within clinically acceptable limits. Conclusion: Asynchronous tele-assessment can be a viable alternative, particularly for older adults in remote areas or those with limited access to healthcare facilities.