Reliability and validity of the Frail Elderly Functional Assessment questionnaire
Abstract
Measuring functional activity for elderly at very low functional levels remains a challenge because many functional instruments have not been standardized in a frail elderly population. The Frail Elderly Functional Assessment questionnaire (FEFA) is a 19-item, interviewer-administered questionnaire designed to assess function in frail elderly at a very low activity level. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of this instrument in a frail elderly population. Two groups of subjects over 65 yr old were selected to test the reliability and validity of this questionnaire. Test-retest reliability was determined by correlating the responses of 29 homebound (including nursing home-bound) subjects who answered the questionnaire on two occasions 2 wk apart. To assess the validity of the FEFA, the questionnaire was administered to 23 frail, homebound (including nursing home-bound) elderly subjects who had a Mini-Mental State Examination score of > or = 18. Validity was determined by correlating patient responses to direct observations by the investigators of tasks addressed in the questionnaire. Correlation was also determined against the Katz's Activity of Daily Living index, Lawton's Instrumental Activity of Daily Living index, and the Barthel index. The reliability coefficient was 0.82. Correlation between the FEFA questionnaire and direct observation of questionnaire task performance was 0.90. Construct validity against the Katz's Activity of Daily Living, Lawton's Instrumental Activity of Daily Living, and the Barthel index showed correlations of 0.86, 0.67 and 0.91, respectively. Initial data indicate that the FEFA is a valid and reliable instrument that may be useful in assessing function in frail elderly people.
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The Frail Elderly Functional Questionnaire (19 items) was identified as a potential outcome measure for frailty intervention studies because it is suitable for telephone or proxy use, valid and reliable, and sensitive to change.
“The Frail Elderly Functional Questionnaire (19 items) was identified as a potential outcome measure for frailty intervention studies as it is suitable for use by telephone or proxy, valid and reliable (100), and is sensitive to change (101).”
From Frailty in elderly people (2013) · cites this paper as [101]
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- Authors
- Gloth, F. M., Walston, J., Meyer, J., & Pearson, J.
- Affiliations
- MedStar Union Memorial Hospital (US)
- ORCID
- Walston, Jeremy
- Venue
- American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Published
- 1995-01
- Volume
- 74
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 45-53
- ISSN
- 0894-9115 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2046275756
- Cited by
- 65
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Frailty in Older Adults
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
- Keywords
- frail elderly, functional assessment, test-retest reliability, construct validity, homebound older adults, nursing home residents, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, Barthel Index, Katz Index, questionnaire development
- MeSH terms
- Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Disability Evaluation, Health Status Indicators, Humans, Surveys and Questionnaires, Baltimore, Reproducibility of Results, Cohort Studies, Frail Elderly, Homebound Persons
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