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Published on: September 30, 2020
Discordance Between Self-Report and Performance-Based Measures Among At-Risk Older Adults: A Secondary Data Analysis
Chiung-Ju Liu1, Wen-Pin Chang2, Inga Wang3
1Chiung-ju Liu, PhD, OTR/L, FGSA, is Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville; c.liu1@phhp.ufl.edu.
Older adults may overestimate their occupational performance, especially those with advanced age or poor physical functioning. Combining self-report and performance-based measures is crucial for identifying potential disabilities and ensuring timely interventions.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Occupational Therapy
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Age-related declines in occupational performance can be subtle and missed by self-report measures alone.
- Discrepancies between self-perceived and actual performance can lead to missed intervention opportunities in at-risk older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differences between self-reported (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure) and performance-based (Assessment of Motor and Process Skills) occupational performance in community-dwelling older adults.
- To identify characteristics of older adults who overestimate or underestimate their functional abilities.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study utilizing secondary data analysis.
- Included 71 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 74) with muscle weakness and self-reported difficulties in daily living.
- Categorized participants as overestimators or underestimators based on discrepancies between COPM Performance and AMPS Motor Skills scores.
Main Results:
- Overestimators (n=12, mean age 79) were older and had poorer physical functioning than underestimators (n=20, mean age 69).
- Overestimators reported higher satisfaction with their performance despite objective measures indicating otherwise.
- Significant differences in age and physical functioning were observed between overestimators and underestimators (p < .05).
Conclusions:
- Both self-report and performance-based assessments are recommended for identifying late-life disability.
- This dual-assessment approach is particularly important for older adults with advanced age or declining physical function.
- Understanding performance discrepancies aids in appropriate assessment selection and intervention planning for older adults.
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