Item analysis of the functional status assessment of seniors in the emergency department.

Abstract

To report some psychometric properties of the functional status assessment of seniors in the emergency department (FSAS-ED) at item level. This 40-item tool addresses the person's functional status prior to and following the decision to consult in ED. A sample of 150 community-living elderly individuals who consulted the ED was recruited. Two evaluators administered the FSAS-ED in the ED and scored it independently. Three measurement properties were considered relevant for the item analysis: response distribution, inter-rater reliability and the ability to indicate a change between before and following the decision to consult ED. Criteria related to these properties were established to classify items as being excellent, acceptable or weak. The response distributions were excellent or acceptable for 36 items (90%). Results pertaining to inter-rater reliability showed 39 excellent or acceptable items (97.5%). Comparison of the responses between before and following the decision to consult to ED showed 24 (60%) excellent or acceptable items and 16 (40%) weak items; the latter were related to communication and cognitive skills. At the item level, the FSAS-ED provides reliable and clinically relevant information about the functional status of older adults consulting ED.