Repeatability of the Questionnaire for the Aging Level Indices.

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to confirm repeatability of the series of self-administrating questions, which can be applied in large community populations. In 1994 and 1995, two surveys were conducted for the residents at Minamikawachi, Japan with a same questionnaire. The number of respondents for the both surveys was 887. Kappa statistics of all items of the series of questions for aging level indices were significantly high. Kappa statistics were over 0.4, and repeatability is good or excellent in 28 items of all the 45 items. The statistics of the items for medical treatments of chronic diseases were high, in such as diabetes (0.846) and hypertension (0.604). For activity of daily livings, such as shopping (0.619), kappa statistics were also high, but that of eating (0.162) was low. The statistics of subjective symptoms were moderate, however, that of impairment of hearing (0.672) was high, and that of decline of interest in opposite sex (0.256) were low. On the other hand, kappa statistics of acute diseases were low, in such as bone fracture (0.073). Correlation coefficients of the comprehensive aging level indices are around 0.6 among the people of 65 years old or older. In conclusion, the repeatability of the questions and indices were good, and they are appropriate to apply to communities.