VALUATION OF FUNCTIONAL STATUS IN HOSPITA LIZED ELDERLY PATIENTS - THE PLUTCHIK SCALE

BACKGROUND: TO study the usefulness of the Plutchik Scale to measure f unctional capacity in daily activities of hospitalized elderly patient s. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A sample of 300 patients stratified by age an d sex (111 male and 189 female), mean age 81 years, hospitalized in th e Geriatric Unit, was selected from all the patients admitted to our U nit along the year 1994 (n = 974, mean length of stay in acute beds 15 days, in convalescent beds 57 days, total 19 days). Scores of patient s in the Plutchik Scale, Katz Activities of Daily Living and Barthel A DL Index were obtained, Ninety seven of the subjects were rated by two independent observers. RESULTS: The kappa statistic of interrater rel iability in Plutchik Scale scoring was high (0.807). There was a good correlation between the three instruments at cut-points for autonomy/d ependence: 0.824 for cut-points 4/5 in Plutchik Scale and 2/3 in Katz Activities of Daily Living; 0.846 for cutpoints 4/5 in Plutchik Scale and 55/60 in Barthel ADL Index (p < 0.01). The coefficient alpha (Cron bach) in Plutchik Scale was 0.876 and the standardized alpha 0.868, wh ich reflect that the Plutchik Scale is internally consistent. By facto r analysis one factor was obtained explaining 58% of the variance, The factor showed the highest correlation with <<washing/dressing>> (0.86 1) and lowest with <<vision>> (0.349). CONCLUSIONS: The Plutchik Scale is a good instrument for measuring functional capacity in hospitalize d elderly patients.