Reliability and Validity of the Korean Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Health Sciences

Background:

• Aging populations present increasing challenges for community-dwelling older adults.
• Assessing functional status and disability is crucial for geriatric care.
• Existing instruments may require cultural adaptation for specific populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop the Korean version of the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (K-LLFDI).
• To verify the reliability and validity of the K-LLFDI in community-dwelling older adults.
• To provide a culturally relevant tool for assessing function and disability in Korean seniors.

Main Methods:

• Development and translation of the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument into Korean.
• Survey of 50 community-dwelling older adults (aged 65+) with independent mobility.
• Statistical analysis to assess cultural validity, reliability, internal consistency, and factor loading.

Main Results:

• High overall cultural validity (0.95) for 48 items, with one item revised.
• High to very high reliability across six domains.
• High internal consistency for the Disability component (α = 0.859) and very high for the Function component (α = 0.914).
• Factor loading above 0.04 for 42 out of 48 items, indicating good construct representation.

Conclusions:

• The Korean Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (K-LLFDI) is a reliable and valid measure.
• The K-LLFDI effectively assesses function and disability in Korean older adults.
• This instrument can aid in addressing the health and functional challenges of a growing senior population.