The accuracy of proxy ratings of life-style activities using the Adelaide Activities Profile

The accuracy of proxy ratings with the Adelaide Activities Profile (AAP) ha s not been previously described. The current study sought to redress this s ituation by sampling spouses and adult children (the two most plausible cla sses of proxy), and by selecting healthy community dwelling people aged 65 years and over as index cases. The aim was to examine the level of agreemen t, and the nature of any disagreement, between index case and proxy AAP rat ings. Data were obtained from 87 family units, of which 61 comprised husban d, wife and adult child: while 26 consisted of husbands and wives only. Ind ex-proxy agreement for the AAP scales was in general very satisfactory. Wiv es were more accurate proxies than their husbands, and both were more accur ate than their children, although the latter were still adequate. Proxy acc uracy was not further enhanced by age, sex, or frequency of contact with in dex cases. (C)2000. Editrice Kurtis.