Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinimetric properties of the de Morton Mobility
Index (DEMMI) in healthy, community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Cohort study.
SETTING: Retirement village and Returned and Services League (RSL) club in
Melbourne, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: All participants were 65 years or older,
healthy, and living within the community. The validation study included
participants recruited from a retirement village (n=61), and the reliability
studies included participants recruited from an RSL club and a subset of
participants from the retirement village. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN
OUTCOME MEASURES: Mobility was assessed using the DEMMI. The percentage of
participants who scored the highest and lowest possible score on the DEMMI was
calculated to determine whether a floor or ceiling effect occurred. The minimal
clinically important difference (MCID) was estimated using a distribution-based
method. Reliability was assessed independently and concurrently using the minimal
detectable change at 90% confidence (MDC). RESULTS: Evidence of convergent and
discriminant validity was obtained for the DEMMI by examining correlations with
measures of related constructs, the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (r=.69) and
Quality of Life Scale scores (r=.28), respectively. Participants who ambulated
without a gait aid (82.62+/-10.63) had significantly higher (P<.0) DEMMI scores
than those who ambulated with an aid (64.1+/-12.40), providing evidence of known
groups validity. No floor or ceiling effect was identified. The MCID was 7
points. The MDC was 13 (95% CI, 8.76-17.05) points on the 100-point scale.
CONCLUSION: DEMMI scores in healthy, community-dwelling older adults are both
valid and reliable.
CI - Copyright A(c) 2011 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS