Development of the activity card sort--Australia

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Occupational Therapy
• Public Health

Background:

• Measuring participation in daily living activities is crucial for older adults' well-being.
• Existing tools may not be culturally specific or comprehensive for the Australian context.
• The Activity Card Sort (ACS) is a validated measure of participation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Activity Card Sort (ACS)--Australia.
• To create a culturally relevant tool for assessing participation in activities of daily living among older Australians.

Main Methods:

• Item generation using secondary analysis of activity diaries from older Australians in Brisbane and Adelaide.
• Item selection and domain determination through a survey of older adults and cluster analysis.
• Validation of the ACS-Australia for measuring participation in daily living activities.

Main Results:

• The final ACS-Australia includes 82 activity items.
• Items are categorized into three domains: household activities, social/educational activities, and leisure activities.
• The tool demonstrates robust psychometric properties for the Australian population.

Conclusions:

• The ACS-Australia is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing participation in daily living activities in older Australians.
• Its cultural relevance and wide applicability will enhance clinical and population-based research.
• Facilitates rigorous research into the participation of older Australians in meaningful activities.