Minimum clinically important difference of the Social Functioning in Dementia Scale (SF-DEM): cross-sectional study...

Good social functioning is important for people living with dementia and their families. The Social Functioning in Dementia Scale (SF-DEM) is a valid and reliable instrument measuring social functioning in dementia. However the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) has not yet been derived for SF-DEM. This study aims to define the MCID for the SF-DEM.

We used triangulation, incorporating data from a cross-sectional study to calculate the MCID using distribution-based and anchor-based methods, and a Delphi survey.

The cross-sectional survey comprised 299 family carers of people with dementia. Twenty dementia experts (researchers, clinicians, family carers) rated whether changes on clinical vignettes represented a meaningful change in the Delphi survey.

We calculated the distribution-based MCID as 0.5 of an SD for each of the three SF-DEM domains (1-spending time with others, 2-communicating with others, 3-sensitivity to others). We used the carers' rating of social functioning to calculate the anchor-based MCID. For the Delphi survey, we defined consensus as ≥75% agreement. Where there was lack of consensus, experts were asked to complete a further survey round.

We found that 0.5 SD of SF-DEM was 1.9 points, 2.2 and 1.4 points in domains 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Using the anchoring analysis, the MCIDs were 1.7 points, 1.7 points, and 0.9 points in domains 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The Delphi method required two rounds. In the second round, a consensus was reached that a 2-point change was considered significant in all three domains, but no consensus was reached on a 1-point change.

By triangulating all three methods, the SF-DEM's MCIDs were 1.9, 2.0 and 1.4 points for domains 1, 2 and 3, respectively. For individuals, these values should be rounded to a 2-point change for each domain.