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Published on: February 14, 2014
Self-reports on the IQCODE in older adults: a psychometric evaluation
Aaltje P D Jansen1, Hein P J van Hout, Giel Nijpels
1EMGO Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Department of General Practice, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology
|May 14, 2008
Summary
The Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline (self-report) is a feasible and valid tool for screening dementia symptoms in older adults. This study confirmed its good homogeneity and construct validity for community-dwelling populations.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychometrics
- Neurology
Background:
- The Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline (IQCODE) is established for dementia identification.
- Self-report measures are increasingly utilized for screening cognitive decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility, homogeneity, and construct validity of the IQCODE self-report (IQCODE-SR) for dementia symptom screening.
- To assess the performance of the IQCODE-SR in a large community-dwelling older adult population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 4823 community-dwelling older adults administered the IQCODE-SR.
- Feasibility assessed via response rate, missing data, and assistance needed.
- Homogeneity analyzed using Cronbach's alpha.
- Construct validity tested through predefined hypotheses.
Main Results:
- Acceptable feasibility with a 58.9% response rate.
- Low item missingness (2.5%-7.3%) and significant assistance required for 915 participants.
- Excellent homogeneity indicated by Cronbach's alpha of .94.
- Most construct validity hypotheses were supported.
Conclusions:
- The IQCODE-SR demonstrates good feasibility, homogeneity, and construct validity.
- The self-report version of the IQCODE is a suitable measurement instrument for screening dementia symptoms.
- Findings support the use of IQCODE-SR in community-dwelling older adults for cognitive decline assessment.
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