Applicability of a toolkit for geriatric rehabilitation outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To field test the applicability of a multidimensional toolkit for geriatric rehabilitation outcomes which includes nine standardized tools. Applicability is defined as context- and population-specific pragmatic qualities of an assessment tool such as respondent and examiner burden, score distribution and format compatibility.


METHODS
A sample of 48 older adults representing four diagnostic groups, as well as 26 caregivers, were assessed at home in the first month after discharge from intensive rehabilitation (T1) and 2 months later (T2). Pre-determined qualitative and quantitative applicability criteria were coded and compared at T1 and T2, as well as responsiveness.


RESULTS
A higher respondent burden was found for three self-report tools, as well as a ceiling effect on social functioning tools. Respondent burden, examiner burden and score distribution remained stable or diminished at T2. Format compatibility deteriorated only for the mobility test due to a higher proportion of non ambulatory participants (17%). Low to moderate associations between the tools corroborated that they were not redundant (rPearson <or= 0.77). Responsiveness estimates confirmed that mean scores were stable between T1 and T2.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the toolkit was found to be applicable at home after geriatric rehabilitation. Modifications are proposed to further improve its applicability. This study highlighted practical aspects that could alleviate the burden on research participants and facilitate the use of those tools for community follow-up for clinical and research purposes.
Auger
Claudine
C
Research Centre, Montréal Geriatric University Institute, Canada. claudine.auger@umontreal.ca
Demers
Louise
L
Desrosiers
Johanne
J
Giroux
Francine
F
Ska
Bernadette
B
Wolfson
Christina
C
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011792:Quebec; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires