ICF-based disability survey in a rural population of adults and older adults living in Cinco Villas, Northeastern Spain: design, methods and population characteristics.
BACKGROUND
This article describes the methods of a door-to-door screening survey exploring the distribution of disability and its major determinants in northeastern Spain. This study will set the basis for the development of disability-related services for the rural elderly in northeastern Spain.


METHODS
The probabilistic sample was composed of 1,354 de facto residents from a population of 12,784 Social Security card holders (age: > or = 50 years). Cognitive and disability screenings were conducted (period: June 2008-June 2009). Screening instruments were the MMSE and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Participants screened positive for disability underwent an assessment protocol focusing on primary care diagnoses, disability, lifestyle, and social and health service usage. Participants screened positive for cognitive functioning went through in-depth neurological evaluation.


RESULTS
The study sample is described. Usable data were available for 1,216 participants. A total of 625 individuals (51.4%) scored within the positive range in the disability screening, while 135 (11.1%) scored within the positive range of the cognitive screening. The proportion of positively screened individuals was higher for women and increased with age.


CONCLUSIONS
Screening surveys represent a feasible design for examining the distribution of disability and its determinants among the elderly. Data quality may benefit from methodological developments tailored to rural populations with a low education level.
Department of Applied Epidemiology, National Centre for Epidemiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, ES-28029 Madrid, Spain. jpedro@isciii.es
Jesús
J
de Pedro-Cuesta
Magdalena
M
Comín Comín
Javier
J
Virués-Ortega
Javier
J
Almazán Isla
Fuencisla
F
Avellanal
Enrique
E
Alcalde Cabero
Olga
O
Burzaco
Juan Manuel
JM
Castellote
Alarcos
A
Cieza
Javier
J
Damián
Maria João
MJ
Forjaz
Belén
B
Frades
Esther
E
Franco
Luis Alberto
LA
Larrosa
Rosa
R
Magallón
Gloria
G
Martín García
Cristina
C
Martínez
Pablo
P
Martínez Martín
Roberto
R
Pastor-Barriuso
Ana
A
Peña Jiménez
Adolfo
A
Población Martínez
Geoffrey
G
Reed
Cristina
C
Ruíz
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012042:Registries; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology