Mode of administration effects on disability measures in a sample of frail beneficiaries.
OBJECTIVE
To compare disability rates resulting from several modes of survey administration in a single sample of frail elders.


METHODS
Using the same battery of six ADL questions we compared the resulting level of disability across several modes of administration: mail survey with telephone follow-up, in person interview, and evaluation by a registered nurse, further comparing self and proxy responses where both were available. We also created a crosswalk between these measures and clinical evaluations by rehabilitation therapists, allowing another point of comparison.


RESULTS
Disability rates varied substantially by mode of survey administration and all survey modes yielded lower rates of disability than those we derived from clinical assessments.


CONCLUSIONS
Relying on self-report in evaluating functional status may underestimate disability in clinical evaluations, level of care determinations and service planning. Researchers and policymakers should also take mode of administration effects into account when estimating or comparing disability rates.
Walsh
Edith G
EG
RTI International, 1440 Main Street, Suite 310, Waltham, MA 02451-1623, USA. ewalsh@rti.org
Khatutsky
Galina
G
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D006278:Medicare; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012107:Research Design; D012647:Self-Assessment; D014481:United States