title: Using qualitative methods to develop a measure of resident-to-resident elder mistreatment in nursing homes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite expansion of research on elder mistreatment, limited attention has been paid to the development of improved measurement instruments. This gap is particularly notable regarding measurement of mistreatment in long-term care facilities. This paper demonstrates the value of qualitative methods used in item development of a Resident-to-Resident Elder Mistreatment (R-REM) measure for use in nursing homes and other care facilities. It describes the development strategy and the modification and refinement of items using a variety of qualitative methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  A combination of qualitative methods was used to develop close-ended items to measure R-REM, including review by a panel of experts, focus groups, and in-depth cognitive interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Information gathered from the multiple methods aided in flagging problematic items, helped to highlight the nature of the problems in measures, and provided suggestions for item modification and improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The method employed is potentially useful for future attempts to develop better measures of elder mistreatment. The employment of previously established measurement items drawn from related fields, modified through an intensive qualitative research strategy, is an effective strategy to improve elder mistreatment measurement.
authors.affiliation: Research Division, Hebrew Home at Riverdale, Riverdale, New York 10471, USA. milramirez@aol.com
authors.forename: Mildred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: Jeanne A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Teresi
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silver
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sukha
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bortagis
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Haitsma
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lachs
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pillemer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires