Psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of Pfeffer's Functional Activities Questionnaire

Abstract

Pfeffer's Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ) is one of the most commonly employed tools in studies on pathological cognitive aging. Despite the different versions of the questionnaire translated for use in clinical practice, few studies have analyzed the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the FAQ (P-FAQ). Thus, the aim of the present study was to analyze the P-FAQ with regard to internal consistency, factorial structure and associations with demographic factors (age, sex, and schooling), depressive symptoms, cognitive measures and other measures of functionality. One hundred sixty-one older adults were divided into four groups (91 with dementia, 46 with mild cognitive impairment, 11 with psychiatric disorders and 13 healthy controls). All participants were evaluated by cognitive, behavioral and functional tests and scales. Their caregivers answered the P-FAQ. The questionnaire showed high internal consistency (α = 0.91). Factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure, which, accounted for 66% of the total variance. The P-FAQ was not correlated with demographic factors, was weakly correlated with depressive symptoms ( = 0.271, p < 0.01, R 2 = 7%) and strongly correlated with cognitive measures (Matttis Dementia Rating Scale total score: = −0.574, p < 0.01, R 2 = 33%) as well as complex instrumental activities of daily living ( = −0.845, p < 0.01, R 2 = 71%). Cognitive performance and depression status were independent predictors of P-FAQ scores in regression models. The present findings indicate that the P-FAQ has satisfactory reliability, internal consistency, construct validity and ecological validity. Therefore, this questionnaire can be used in clinical practice and research involving the Brazilian population of older adults.

Assessment of cognitive‐driven activity of daily living impairment in non‐demented Parkinson's patients

“…The FAQ is one of the most commonly used scales in research on pathological ageing and dementia and has been translated into a number of different languages (Assis Lde, de Paula, Assis, de Moraes, & Malloy‐Diniz, ; Bezdicek, Stepankova, Martinec Novakova, & Kopecek, ; Cruz‐Orduna et al ., ; Sanchez, Correa, & Lourenco, ). Although the FAQ is an indirect measure of ADL function (based on self‐ and informant reports of dysfunctions), the questionnaire shows promising sensitivity and specificity for discriminating between non‐impaired and demented subjects (85–98% and 71–91%, respectively; Teng et al ., ).…”

Estrutura dimensional da versão brasileira do Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ-BR)

“…O estudo de Assis et al 10 , tal como este, evidenciou bidimensionalidade para o FAQ, quando aplicado a 161 idosos não institucionalizados usuários de um serviço de saúde do Brasil. A despeito das limitações do método adotado para avaliação da estrutura dimensional dessa versão em português do FAQ -oriunda de um processo de adaptação transcultural desconhecido -e de alguns itens diferentes da escala original 7 , os itens G, H e I também compuseram uma dimensão no estudo, ainda que o item I tenha apresentado cargas fatoriais cruzadas 10 . Assim, a escala parece atender à exigência mínima de três indicadores por dimensão, o que permite um mapeamento adequado do crescente de intensidade do conteúdo dimensional 19,20 .…”

Incapacidade Funcional De Idosos Com Demência

“…Do ponto de vista demográfico, a proporção de idosos na população em geral tem crescido, principalmente devido à redução significativa das taxas de mortalidade por doenças infectocontagiosas e crônicas, ao avanço da tecnologia médica, ao maior acesso a serviços de saúde e à melhoria da qualidade de vida (ASSIS et al, 2014;BURLÁ et al, 2013). No Brasil, esse processo acontece de forma acelerada, associado à ampliação da expectativa de vida da população e pode ocasionar o aumento da prevalência e incidência de doenças incapacitantes e de prejuízos à funcionalidade (NOGUEIRA, 2010).…”