Validity of an activities of daily living questionnaire among older patients in the emergency department

The objective of this study was to determine the validity of French and Eng lish versions of the Older American Resources and Services (OARS) activitie s of dairy living (ADL) questionnaire using a premorbid reference period am ong older emergency department (ED) patients. A sample of 404 ED patients a ged 65 and over participating in a study of functional decline was invited to participate in a clinical assessment shortly after their ED visit. The O ARS ADL questionnaire was administered either to the patient or a proxy inf ormant at the ED visit. The clinical assessment was conducted by a nurse, b lind to the OARS score, using the Functional Autonomy Measurement System (S MAF). Disability scores for the OARS and SMAF were computed, based on the p atient's premorbid status. Assessments were conducted in 213 patients (52.7 %). The OARS summary scores, a total and an ordinal score, were highly corr elated with the SMAF total disability score (Spearman's r of 0.80 and 0.79, respectively). Similar correlations were found for French and English vers ions. The OARS ADL questionnaire with a premorbid reference period appears to be Valid when administered in the ED, both in French and English. I CLIN EPIDEMIOL 52;11:1023-1030, 1999. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.