Item non-response on self-reported depression screening questionnaire among community-dwelling elderly.
BACKGROUND
In responses to self-reported depression screening questionnaires, item non-response, which refers to the absence of answers to specific questions, is problematic. The objective of this study were (1) to clarify the features of respondents with item non-response on a self-reported elderly depression screening questionnaire (15-item geriatric depression scale; GDS-15) as compared to respondents with full responses, and (2) to compare positive depression screening rates calculated using two methods: excluding respondents with item non-response (complete case analysis; CCA) and estimating by multiplying mean scores from valid responses by the total number of GDS-15 items for respondents with item non-response.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study conducted from 2010 to 2012. Of 4794 elderly subjects (65 years and older) living in one town in Japan 2836 community-dwelling elderly people (59.2%) were included in the analysis.


RESULTS
Item non-response was observed in 25.0% of respondents. Respondents with item non-response had a higher rate of depression and mental and physical problems. Respondents with depression (estimated GDS-15 score ≥6) and suicidal ideation both had a 1.6-times higher risk of item non-response on the GDS-15. The positive depression screening rate on GDS-15 by CCA was 16.5%, compared with 18.9% when calculated by the estimated GDS-15 score.


CONCLUSIONS
Our survey was conducted in one rural area and targeted only elderly people.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of item non-response among community-dwelling elderly people was associated with depression of the respondent. Excluding subjects with item non-response when calculating positive depression screening rates in elderly individuals causes the rate to be underestimated.
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan. Electronic address: asuka@fc.kuh.kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
Asuka
A
Koyama
Yatsushiro Kousei Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan. Electronic address: rtfkng@gmail.com.
Ryuta
R
Fukunaga
Yatsushiro Kousei Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan. Electronic address: abeb42@gmail.com.
Yasuhisa
Y
Abe
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan. Electronic address: yoshitomo.nishi@nifty.com.
Yoshitomo
Y
Nishi
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan. Electronic address: nfujise@kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
Noboru
N
Fujise
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan. Electronic address: mikeda@kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
Manabu
M
Ikeda
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D057566:Self Report
Complete case analysis; GDS; Japan