OBJECTIVE: To assess whether loss of consistency or systematic measurement error is introduced by allowing older individuals to use a cane during measurement of self-selected walking speed (SSWS). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Observational study of women aged 65+ (Women's Health and Aging Study I, n=1,002). RESULTS: Of individuals who use a cane in daily life, 201 (50.76%) did not use an aid during testing. The Coefficient of Variation was low in individuals who reported cane use in daily life but did not use one in testing (10.72%), and did not vary substantially if a cane was used (12.04%). The Intra-Class Correlation Coefficient was high: 0.958 for those who reported cane use in daily life but did not use one during testing and 0.962 for those who used a cane. In both groups, Bland-Altman plots revealed a small systematic difference between the first and second trials. There was no evidence of effect modification of the association between SSWS and mobility disability by cane use during testing. CONCLUSION: This observational study found neither evidence of poorer consistency nor increased measurement bias in SSWS recorded while using a cane compared to using no assistive device.
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether loss of consistency or systematic measurement error is introduced by allowing older individuals to use a cane during measurement of self-selected walking speed (SSWS). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Observational study of women aged 65+ (Women's Health and Aging Study I, n=1,002). RESULTS: Of individuals who use a cane in daily life, 201 (50.76%) did not use an aid during testing. The Coefficient of Variation was low in individuals who reported cane use in daily life but did not use one in testing (10.72%), and did not vary substantially if a cane was used (12.04%). The Intra-Class Correlation Coefficient was high: 0.958 for those who reported cane use in daily life but did not use one during testing and 0.962 for those who used a cane. In both groups, Bland-Altman plots revealed a small systematic difference between the first and second trials. There was no evidence of effect modification of the association between SSWS and mobility disability by cane use during testing. CONCLUSION: This observational study found neither evidence of poorer consistency nor increased measurement bias in SSWS recorded while using a cane compared to using no assistive device.
Authors: E M Simonsick; J D Kasper; J M Guralnik; K Bandeen-Roche; L Ferrucci; R Hirsch; S Leveille; T Rantanen; L P Fried Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2001-01 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Stephanie Studenski; Subashan Perera; Dennis Wallace; Julie M Chandler; Pamela W Duncan; Earl Rooney; Michael Fox; Jack M Guralnik Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2003-03 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Carlos O Weiss; Jennifer L Wolff; Brian Egleston; Christopher L Seplaki; Linda P Fried Journal: Arch Gerontol Geriatr Date: 2011-09-23 Impact factor: 3.250
Authors: Rachel Cooper; Rebecca Hardy; Avan Aihie Sayer; Yoav Ben-Shlomo; Kate Birnie; Cyrus Cooper; Leone Craig; Ian J Deary; Panayotes Demakakos; John Gallacher; Geraldine McNeill; Richard M Martin; John M Starr; Andrew Steptoe; Diana Kuh Journal: PLoS One Date: 2011-11-16 Impact factor: 3.240