ABSTRACT
This chapter is a comprehensive reference manual providing information on the Rivermead Activities of Daily Living (RADL), which is a hierarchically based, observational rating scale of basic and instrumental activities of daily living, designed for both clinical and research use. The conceptual underpinning of the RADL was that items would form a hierarchy, representing an order of recovery. The RADL has many areas of strength. It provides a standardized, objective method of assessment using direct observation of patient performance in a range of self-care and instrumental activities of daily living areas. A brief history of the instrument's development is provided, along with a description of item content and administration/scoring procedures. Psychometric properties are reviewed and a critical commentary is provided. Key references are cited and in most cases the actual scale is included, giving the reader easy access to the instrument.
