Repeatability of standardized tests of functional impairment and well-being in older people in a rehabilitation setting.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to establish the repeatability of standardized tests of vision (Snellen chart testing), hearing (whispered voice test), communication (Frenchay aphasia screening test), loneliness (UCLA loneliness scale), morale (Philadelphia geriatric centre morale scale), and a multidimensional instrument (EASY-care) when used in a rehabilitation setting.


METHODS
The tests were administered by a research nurse to 50 older subjects attending a day rehabilitation unit, with repeat administration one or two weeks later by a nurse on the unit. Kappa statistics were used for level of agreement for categorized data and interclass correlation coefficient were used for data based on scores.


RESULTS
Moderate repeatability for Snellen chart testing. whispered voice test; good to excellent for the FAST, UCLA loneliness scale and Philadelphia geriatric centre morale scale. Moderate to very good repeatability for all EASY-care items except communication, feeding, use of telephone and cognitive impairment, which had poor spread of data.


CONCLUSIONS
Poor repeatability for commonly used tests of vision and hearing is worrying, whereas the positive results for the other tests will increase confidence in using them more in routine practice.
Philp
I
I
Sheffield Institute for Studies on Ageing, Community Sciences Centre, University of Sheffield, Northern General Hospital, UK. i.philp@sheffield.ac.uk
Lowles
R V
RV
Armstrong
G K
GK
Whitehead
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D009013:Morale; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000592:standards