A GLOBAL DISABILITY INDICATOR

Disability is difficulty performing roles and activities due to health problems. It is largely experienced by older persons as they accumula te progressive chronic conditions. To measure functional status of ind ividuals and populations, contemporary surveys include sets of detaile d items about disability. Little effort has gone into developing globa l indicators of disability that cover the concept briefly but well. A global disability indicator is a compact and inexpensive device for pu blic health surveillance and scientific study of disablement. I presen t and critique items that have been used in North American surveys. Go od candidates are selected for methodological study. Both laboratory-b ased cognitive studies and large-scale statistical studies are recomme nded; the first will reveal meanings of items and responses, and the s econd, items' systematic structure and prediction ability. The ultimat e goal is to identify one or a few fine indicators for widespread incl usion in population health surveys.