title: Development of a frailty measure for older adults: the frailty index for elders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Frailty is a significant challenge for health care. Therefore, it is important to identify frail individuals. Theoretical Framework: The Vulnerability/Risk/Human Response/Care Model. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a measure to identify frail older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Instrument development encompassed the following: delineation of content domains, item generation, content validity, quantitative content validity analysis, and psychometric analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings indicated the following: (a) Frailty is a complex concept, (b) the Frailty Index for Elders (FIFE) is composed of 10 items, (c) FIFE was able to predict depression, and (d) FIFE was able to differentiate differences in demographic profiles by social support environment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FIFE is a valid instrument. FIFE can be used to study the relationships among frailty determinants, provide standardized measurement, and develop and measure interventional studies.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tocchi
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naylor
authors.forename: Sangchoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCorkle
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001247:Asthenia / Q000145:classification*; D015984:Causality; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009519:New York City; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015143:Philadelphia; D011594:Psychometrics; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors