Measurement sensitivity and the Minimum Data Set depression quality indicator

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of the pre valence rating of depression in nursing homes as Ragged on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) quality indicator report. Design and Methods: Research Staff mea sured depression symptoms and compared the results with the prevalence of d isturbed mood symptoms documented by nursing home (NH] staff on the MDS in two samples of residents living in different NHs. The homes had been Ragged on the nationally mandated MDS quality indicator report as having unusuall y low (Site 1) or high (Site 2) prevalence rates of depression. Results: Th e percentages of residents determined by research staff interview assessmen ts to have probable depression in the two resident samples were not signifi cantly different (49% vs. 55%, respectively) between homes. The staff in th e home Ragged on the MDS quality indicator report as having a high depressi on prevalence rate identified significantly more residents who also had sco res indicative of probable depression on the resident interviews for follow -up mood assessments than did the home with a low quality indicator prevale nce rate (78% vs. 25%, respectively). Implications: The prevalence of the d epression qualify indicator may be more reflective of measurement processes than of depression outcomes. Factors that may affect the difference in det ection rates are discussed.