This study was designed to address differences in valuation of disability states among health care professionals, elderly persons at risk of long-term care and long-term care patients. 38 cognitively capable elderly enrollees of the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly at the Independent Living for Seniors in Rochester, NY were interviewed as representatives of long-term care patients. Relative importance scores for 6 ADL (Activities of Daily Living) disabilities were obtained and compared with those yielded by professionals and elderly persons at risk of long-term care in previous studies by M. Finch et al.. The three groups are significantly different from each other in their perceptions of functional disabilities. The observed differences between long-term care patients and professionals (p-value<0.005 for all categories) challenge the assumption that professionals are ideal proxies for their patients in medical decision-making. The observed differences between long-term care patients and elderly persons at risk of long-term care (p-value<=0.05 for all but one category) suggest modifications to a measure of functional status when applied to a particular population. Visual analogue scaling method and direct rating approach were employed in the interviews and compared for their performances. The visual analogue scaling method demonstrates moderate task difficulty and generally performed better than the direct rating approach. The reliability of the visual analogue scaling method was tested and judged to be acceptable. Understanding of the patients, innovative design of interview instruments and customized approaches to conducting the interviews are critical to the success of a study with long-term care patients.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1.Recognize the differences in perception of functional disability between health care professionals and long-term care patients and their implications. 2.Recognize the differences in perception of functional disability between long-term care patients and elderly people at risk of long-term care and their implications. 3.Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of interview techniques in their applications to functionally disabled elderly respondents.
Keywords: Aging, Disability
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.