title: Factors affecting daily instrumental activities of the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to determine elderly people's capabilities in daily activities, we evaluated the factors that may affect their daily instrumental activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an observational, analytical, and cross-sectional study on 101 patients above 60 years of age in 2008 and 2009. We applied the Lawton Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL) scale, the Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) during one-on-one interviews with the patients. Demographic data and disability levels were also recorded. These data were used to evaluate the possible effects of factors on the IADL scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analyses indicated that total scores of instrumental activities are affected negatively by increased age, female sex, and literacy (P < 0.001, P = 0.005, and P = 0.021), whereas scores are affected positively by educational level (P = 0.047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that increased age, sex, literacy, and education levels influence elderly people's daily instrumental activities. Daily functional activities and factors influencing these activities should be determined in order to increase elderly people's quality of life and independence. It is important to evaluate elderly people's capabilities in daily activities.
authors.forename: Ayfer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Oğuz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.forename: Sevsen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cebeci
authors.forename: Bünyamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Işik
authors.forename: Adem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozkara
authors.forename: Rabia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kahveci
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canbal
authors.forename: Seyda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kunt
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sencan
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D000067010:Literacy; D008297:Male; D012648:Self Care; D012737:Sex Factors