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) has not been previously described. The current study sought to redress this situation by sampling spouses and adult children (the two most plausible classes 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 agreement, and the nature of any disagreement, between index case and proxy AAP ratings. Data were obtained from 87 family units, of which 61 comprised husband, wife and adult child, while 26 consisted of husbands and wives only. Index-proxy agreement for the AAP scales was in general very satisfactory. Wives were more accurate proxies than their husbands, and both were more accurate than their children, although the latter were still adequate. Proxy accuracy was not further enhanced by age, sex, or frequency of contact with index cases.