Brief Lower Body Functional Performance Questionnaire (Brief-LBFPQ) for independent older adults

Abstract Introduction The literature still lacks evidence about patient-reported outcome measures to fast screen the reduced physical performance of the lower body in older adults to be applied in any clinical setting as primary health care or without specific instruments in prevention campaigns, or even easy to be applied by phone. Objective: To develop a brief questionnaire to screen the lower body functional performance in community-dwelling older adults and to validate this new questionnaire with objective clinical tests. Methods A convenience sampling of 221 community-dwelling older adults was included in this cross-sectional study. The validity between Brief-LBFPQ and objective tests such as gait speed, Timed-Up and Go test (TUG), 5-Time Stand-to-Sit test (5TSST), and step test were assessed by multinominal logistic regression. Internal consistency was determined using Cronbach’s alpha and Test-retest reliability was determined using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for numeral scale and Cohen’s Kappa for ordinal scale. Results Brief-LBFPQ was significantly associated with objective tests. All eight items from Brief-LBFPQ presented an absolute agreement with ICCs values above 0.7. Kappa values of Brief-LBFPQ items ranged from 0.6 to 0.83, showing substantial agreement and perfect agreement. Conclusion Brief-LBFPQ could be very useful in general clinic settings as it provides earlier screening of functional impairment in independent older adults, and consequently may allow an earlier intervention approach.

摘要与引言：目前尚无文献证实可用于快速筛查老年人群下肢肢体功能减退的患者报告结局指标（patient-reported outcome measures），该类指标需符合可在初级保健等各类临床场景中使用、无需专用仪器即可开展预防筛查，甚至可通过电话便捷实施的要求。
研究目的：编制一款用于筛查社区居住老年人群下肢功能状态的简易问卷，并通过客观临床测试对该新型问卷进行效度验证。
研究方法：本横断面研究采用便利抽样法，纳入221名社区居住老年人群。采用多项logistic回归分析，评估简易下肢功能筛查问卷（Brief-LBFPQ）与步态速度、计时起立行走测试（Timed-Up and Go test, TUG）、5次坐立测试（5-Time Stand-to-Sit test, 5TSST）及台阶测试等客观临床测试之间的效度。内部一致性采用克朗巴哈α系数进行分析；重测信度方面，计量资料采用组内相关系数（ICC）分析，等级资料采用科恩kappa系数分析。
研究结果：简易下肢功能筛查问卷（Brief-LBFPQ）与各项客观测试均存在显著相关性。该问卷的8个条目组内相关系数均大于0.7，表明具有良好的绝对一致性。各条目的科恩kappa系数介于0.6~0.83之间，一致性为中等偏上至极佳水平。
研究结论：简易下肢功能筛查问卷（Brief-LBFPQ）可广泛应用于各类临床场景，能够早期筛查独立生活老年人群的功能受损情况，从而为早期干预提供依据。