DATA-COLLECTION IN THE ADULT DAY HEALTH-CARE EVALUATION STUDY

This report presents data collection measures and methods for the eval uation of Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) in the Department of Veterans A ffairs (VA). Measures of patient health were survival, the Sickness Im pact Profile, self-rated health, the Mini-Mental State Exam, Psycholog ical Distress Scale, Social Support Scale, and Problem Behaviors Scale . Measures of health for the care giver were: Activities of Daily Livi ng, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, health perceptions, Psych ological Distress Scale, life satisfaction, Social Support Scale, and Caregiver Burden Scale. We also assessed patient and care giver satisf action with the care received by the patient. Measures of health statu s and outcomes were assessed primarily through patient and care giver interview at study enrollment, 6 months, and 12 months. Utilization an d cost both within and outside VA were assessed for hospital, ambulato ry care, nursing home, ADHC, home care, pharmacy, laboratory, and othe r forms of health care. Sources of utilization data included VA's comp uterized patient database, VA medical records, patient questionnaires, care giver questionnaires, and health care providers outside VA. Cost s were obtained from VA's cost accounting system, VA Central Office, V A's contracts with outside providers, and directly from outside provid ers. Utilization and cost were assessed for each patient for a period of 1 year after entry into the study.