M Ockander1, M Hjerppe, T Timpka. 1. Department of Social Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden. maroc@ihm.liu.se
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To compare the chronic diseases mentioned by elderly women in an interview study with those documented in their respective medical records. METHODS: The prevalence of positive diagnoses, overall agreement, and the kappa-coefficient were calculated for each group of diagnoses. RESULTS: The lowest overall agreement was observed for psychiatric diseases, followed by diseases of the gastrointestinal system. Poor chance-adjusted agreement was found concerning diseases of the gastrointestinal system and diseases of the skin. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a main reason for discordance was that the elderly women feared "losing face" by reporting some diseases.
OBJECTIVES: To compare the chronic diseases mentioned by elderly women in an interview study with those documented in their respective medical records. METHODS: The prevalence of positive diagnoses, overall agreement, and the kappa-coefficient were calculated for each group of diagnoses. RESULTS: The lowest overall agreement was observed for psychiatric diseases, followed by diseases of the gastrointestinal system. Poor chance-adjusted agreement was found concerning diseases of the gastrointestinal system and diseases of the skin. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a main reason for discordance was that the elderly women feared "losing face" by reporting some diseases.
Authors: Ruth M A van Nispen; Michiel R de Boer; Janneke G J Hoeijmakers; Peter J Ringens; Ger H M B van Rens Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2009-02-25 Impact factor: 3.186