The Eating Behavior Scale: A SIMPLE METHOD OF ASSESSING FUNCTIONAL ABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Abstract

Health care providers and family members need practical methods of assessing functional skills of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). There are neuropsychological tests that identify areas of function and dysfunction in the brain, but discrepancies have been noted between test scores and functional behaviors in activities of daily living (ADLs). The Eating Behavior Scale (EBS) was developed to measure functional ability during meals. A sample of 30 patients with probable AD were observed using the EBS during two meals on two different days. There was a strong negative correlation between meal duration and the EBS score. That is, the lower the EBS score, the longer the time required to complete the meol. Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) scores were positively correlated with EBS scores. Patients with higher MMSE scores and less time since diagnosis tended to have higher EBS scores, indicating greater independence in eating.

ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in dementia

“…It helps in planning an appropriate multidimensional intervention. The Eating Behavior Scale (EBS) [89] measures the ability to eat independently and consequently may enable judgment for the need of care during meals.…”

Special Section—Behavioral symptoms of dementia: their measurement and intervention. Keeping wandering nursing home residents at the table: improving food intake using a behavioral communication intervention

“…Cases were selected on the absence of other major psychopathological and physical illness that may have offered competing explanations for the presence of wandering behavior, and met the following inclusion criteria: consenting proxy, English-speaking, DSM-IV criteria for diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease, independently ambulatory and restraint-free, absence of obvious acute illness, Mini-Mental Status Score (MMSE; Folstein et al, 1975) of less than 24/30 (case range ¼ 0-1/30), moderately preserved independent feeding skills with an Eating Behavior Scale (EBS; Tully et al, 1997) score of 12/18 or higher (case range ¼ 17-18/18), sight and hearing sufficient for everyday communication, and a recorded weight loss of greater than five pounds in the three month period preceding the study. The EBS measures self-feeding along five dimensions yielding a total score of 18, with higher scores indicating higher function: attention to meal; ability to locate food; use of utensils; biting, chewing & swallowing, and termination of the meal.…”

Characteristics of Eating Behavior in Elders with Dementia residing in Long-Term Care Facilities

“…함께 이를 측정한 연구들이 행해졌고, 여기에 부적절한 음식을 먹 거나 음식을 집어 입에 넣는 동작의 실패, 음식을 삼키지 않고 뱉어 내는 행동, 음식을 저작하거나 삼키지 못하는 행동 등의 다양한 행 동이 결과로 제시되었다 (Chang & Roberts, 2008;Durnbaugh et al, 1996;Lin, Watson, Lee, Chou, & Wu, 2008;Tully, Matrakas, Muir, & Musallam, 1997). 한편, 치매노인의 식사행동과의 관련성 연구에서 식사행동은 인지기능, 신체기능 등과 관련이 있고, 이로 인한 식사행 동의 변화는 음식섭취량 및 체중감소와 영양결핍을 일으키며, 식사 보조의 어려움과 식사시간을 증가시켜 부양자의 부담을 증가시키 는 것으로 나타났다 (Chang & Roberts;Lin et al;Tully et al;Wang, 2002;Watson, 2002;White, 2005).…”

“…한편, 치매노인의 식사행동과의 관련성 연구에서 식사행동은 인지기능, 신체기능 등과 관련이 있고, 이로 인한 식사행 동의 변화는 음식섭취량 및 체중감소와 영양결핍을 일으키며, 식사 보조의 어려움과 식사시간을 증가시켜 부양자의 부담을 증가시키 는 것으로 나타났다 (Chang & Roberts;Lin et al;Tully et al;Wang, 2002;Watson, 2002;White, 2005). …”