[A review of screening tools to assess domestic violence against the elderly]

Data on elder abuse in Brazil are scarce. Systematic and thorough documentation can facilitate studies on magnitude, risk factors, and care of victims. This article reviews the existing screening tools on violence against elders in order to examine recent progress in the field, both in Brazil and abroad. A systematic review through MEDLINE, PsycINFO, LILACS, CANE, and OVID and reference books was performed using specific inclusion criteria. Studies on psychometric background and utilization of selected instruments were systematically examined, applying a set of quality assessment criteria. The Conflicts Tactics Scale was the only one of 17 identified scales that had been adapted to the Brazilian culture, although focusing on a younger age group. Some instruments with good psychometric characteristics were also found, namely the Caregiver Abuse Screen, Elder Abuse Assessment Tool, Hwalek Sengstok Abuse Screening Test, Indicators of Abuse Screen, QUALCARE scale, and Vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale. However, there are still gaps in the process of design, validation, and adaptation, both in Brazil and abroad.