Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
A spiritual screening tool for older adults
1Shell Point Retirement Community, 15100 Shell Point Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33904, USA. SueStranahan@ShellPoint.org
Objective:
The purpose of this non-experimental study was to investigate the reliability and validity of a self-administered screening tool for spiritual distress in older adults. The tool was unique in that items were consistent with a conceptual definition of spirituality presented in the professional literature and supported by theories of behavioral development for older adults.
Methods:
Questionnaires were distributed to residents of a continuing care retirement community participating in a class on spirituality.
Results:
The split-half reliability coefficient was found to be 0.776. Construct validity was established and a cutoff value for spiritual distress was determined.
Discussion:
Tests for reliability and validity demonstrated confidence in use of the tool to screen for spiritual distress in older adults.
