Interactive voice response version of the late-life function and disability instrument

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Informatics
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• The Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) assesses function and disability in older adults.
• Computer adaptive tests (CATs) offer efficient assessment but require user-friendly interfaces.
• Older adults may benefit from alternative data collection methods like interactive voice response (IVR).

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an IVR version of the LLFDI-CAT.
• To evaluate the reliability and acceptability of the IVR LLFDI-CAT in community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and older.

Main Methods:

• The IVR system was integrated into the LLFDI-CAT program.
• Test-retest reliability and concordance with the telephone interviewer form (TIF) were assessed.
• Fifty community-dwelling adults aged 65+ participated in the study.

Main Results:

• The IVR LLFDI-CAT showed acceptable test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.79-0.80).
• Concordance between the IVR LLFDI-CAT and TIF was strong (ICC = 0.74-0.97).
• Most participants found the IVR version not more difficult to use, though many preferred the TIF.

Conclusions:

• The IVR LLFDI-CAT is a reliable assessment tool comparable to the TIF version.
• Further improvements to the IVR design are recommended to enhance user experience for older adults.
• The IVR LLFDI-CAT presents a potentially valuable tool for assessing function and disability in geriatric populations.