Do objective measurements of physical function in ambulatory nursing home women improve assessment of functional status?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the functional status of ambulatory women in four academic nursing homes using standardized rating scales and physical performance measures used in community settings.
DESIGN: Observational cohort. PARTICIPANTS: Women older than 65 years, ambulatory with or without an assistive device.
INTERVENTIONS: Direct comparison of the Functional Independence Measure and the Performance Self Maintenance Score with objective measure of the Get-up-and-go test, a six minute walk, and a six meter walk.
RESULTS: Two variables, the gait speed and creatinine clearance, correctly classified 80% of subjects with higher functional status defined by subjective rating scales.
CONCLUSION: Although gait speed calculated by a six meter walk is easily performed and highly correlated with subjectively assessed functional status, the majority of these ambulatory women nursing home residents exceeded the population means for each of the performance-based physical function measures.