Feasibility and reliability of the elderly version of the Camberwell Assessment of Needs (CANE): results from the São Paulo Ageing & Health Study.
OBJECTIVE
We set out to assess the feasibility, reliability and convergent validity of the Camberwell Assessment of Needs for the Elderly Scale in older residents of a Brazilian urban elderly population of low socioeconomic status.


METHODS
We identified 32 older users of community health services from a population-based catchment area survey. We administered the Brazilian version of the Camberwell Assessment of Needs for the Elderly Scale to the older person and to an informal caregiver, and tape-recorded the assessments. Interviewers made a rating. Tape-recordings were independently co-rated.


RESULTS
Items contributing to older person and caregiver reports of needs and unmet needs had a high internal consistency. Inter-rater reliability was excellent for all needs, and fair to good for unmet needs. Older person and caregiver's reports, and interviewer ratings were highly mutually consistent. Convergent validity was supported by associations, as hypothesized, between needs and disability, and needs and dementia.


CONCLUSIONS
The Brazilian version of the Camberwell Assessment of Needs for the Elderly Scale is a feasible, reliable and, to the extent assessed, valid assessment of unmet needs in a disadvantaged low and middle income countries setting. Its practical utility as a clinical tool remains to be assessed.
Sousa
Renata Mello de Magalhães
RM
University Hospital, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Scazufca
Márcia
M
Menezes
Paulo Rossi
PR
Crepaldi
André Luiz
AL
Prince
Martin James
MJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics; D014175:Translating