New handicap scale for elderly in hospital

The new handicap scale, consisting of 12 questions based on ICD classification of handicap, was developed as an outcome measure and assessed in 29 in-patients and 27 day hospital attenders. Results show that the handicap score obtained using this new instrument correlates significantly with the score obtained using the London handicap scale. In addition the score correlated with the Nottingham extended activities of daily living, the functional autonomy measurement system, two of the commonly used measures of outcome, and some of the parameters of SF-36. In the 29 inpatients the results show improvement in handicap with treatment including rehabilitation. For assessment of reproducibility and stability over time the handicap scale was administered twice to 10-day-hospital attenders over a three days period end the results revealed a high coefficient (0.98) and kappa (0.92) values. Thus the results obtained from this small study suggest that the questionnaire is a useful tool for assessment of handicap in elderly patients receiving treatment in hospital.