The Physical Functioning Inventory: Procedure for Assessing Physical Function in Adults

The Physical Functioning Inventory, an instrument designed to assess changes in how and how often activities are performed in persons reporting difficulty with a task as well as in those who do not, is described. The measure is designed for adults. Interrater and test-retest reliability were assesse...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of aging and health 2001-11, Vol.13 (4), p.467-493
Main Authors: Whetstone, Lauren M., Fozard, James L., Metter, E. Jeffrey, Hiscock, Barbara S., Burke, Ray, Gittings, Neil, Fried, Linda P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activities of Daily Living
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Health Status
Health Status Indicators
Health Surveys
Health technology assessment
Humans
Medical equipment
Middle Aged
Motor ability
Older people
Physical examinations
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Summary:The Physical Functioning Inventory, an instrument designed to assess changes in how and how often activities are performed in persons reporting difficulty with a task as well as in those who do not, is described. The measure is designed for adults. Interrater and test-retest reliability were assessed with active participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). Percentage agreement ranged from 63% to 100%. The instrument was also given to 392 inactive BLSA participants as part of a follow-up telephone interview. Fifty-eight percent of the respondents reported no difficulty in performing a task, yet reported a change in how or how often they performed that task. The results indicate that the instrument is reliable and effective in detecting early stages of disability in activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and mobility. The instrument is somewhat less reliable for moderate and strenuous physical activities.
ISSN:0898-2643
1552-6887
DOI:10.1177/089826430101300402