Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 6, 2026
Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
Development of an instrument to assess social functioning in dementia: The Social Functioning in Dementia scale
Andrew Sommerlad1, David Singleton2, Rebecca Jones2
1Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK; Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, London, UK.
Introduction:
Social functioning is a core domain in the life of people with dementia, but there is no accepted instrument to measure it. We aimed to develop the Social Functioning in Dementia (SF-DEM) scale and test its psychometric properties for assessing social function in people with dementia.
Methods:
We interviewed people with mild dementia and family caregivers to develop patient and caregiver-rated SF-DEM versions and refined them through interviews with health care professionals. We tested its psychometric properties in 30 dyads of people with dementia and family caregivers.
Results:
Both SF-DEM versions had content validity and demonstrated concurrent validity against a single item rating overall social functioning (patient rated r = 0.42, 95% CI [0.07-0.68]; caregiver rated r = 0.59, 95% CI [0.29-0.78]). All participants found it acceptable. Analyses showed reliability (test-retest, inter-rater, internal consistency) and indications of responsiveness to change.
Discussion:
SF-DEM shows promise as a valid, reliable, acceptable measure of social functioning in dementia.
More Related Videos
08:36The Immersive Cleveland Clinic Virtual Reality Shopping Platform for the Assessment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
Published on: July 28, 2022
11:21Methodology for Establishing a Community-Wide Life Laboratory for Capturing Unobtrusive and Continuous Remote Activity and Health Data
Published on: July 27, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:30Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood