A new screening tool for self-neglect in community-dwelling older adults: IMSelf-neglect questionnaire. (4th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: İlhan, Birkan; Bahat, Gülistan; Saka, Filiz; Kılıç, Cihan; Merve Oren, Meryem; Karan, Mehmet Akif
• Is Part Of: Aging male. Volume 23:Number 5(2020)
• Page Start: 388
• Page End: 395
• Publication Date: 2020-12-04
• Subjects: Self-neglect -- screening -- tool -- older adults; Aging -- Periodicals; Men -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; Men -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Aging -- periodicals; Geriatric -- periodicals; Men -- periodicals; Aged -- periodicals; Aged, 80 and over -- periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1080/13685538.2018.1499083
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-5538

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: We aimed to develop a new screening tool for self-neglect in community-dwelling self-sufficient older adults. Methods: Istanbul Medical School Elder Self-Neglect questionnaire (IMSelf-neglect) was developed as a screening tool. Community-dwelling, self-sufficient older adults were recruited in a geriatric outpatient clinic ( n = 226, 142 female, 84 male). Construct validity was based on social-worker's interview as a gold-standard method. The cut-off threshold for IMSelf-neglect questionnaire was calculated from ROC-analysis using cut-off values that predicted social-worker's opinion whether the older adult has self-neglect. Results: Mean age was 74 ± 6.5 years. The inter-rater and test-retest reliability were excellent ( r = 0.887, p < .05; r = 0.942, p < .05, respectively). The internal consistency was good (Cronbach's alpha: 0.708). Cut-off threshold for IM Self-neglect questionnaire was calculated as 7 with 92.1% sensitivity and 70.7% specificity. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value of IMSelf-neglect questionnaire were 38.9% and 97.8%, respectively. There was significant moderate agreement between social worker's assessment and results of IMSelf-neglect questionnaire (κ = 0.407, p < .001). The social worker confirmed 16.8% of the participants have self-neglect by the gold-standard clinical interview. Participants with self-neglect had decreased functionality, worse quality of life and tended to have more depression compared with participants without self-neglect. Discussion/Conclusion: We developed the IMSelf-neglect questionnaire as a valid and reliable tool to screen self-neglect in outpatient clinics complementary to comprehensive geriatric assessment.