Arlette Edjolo1,2, Karine Pérès3, Maëlenn Guerchet4,5,6, Sophie Pilleron4,5, Bébène Ndamba-Bandzouzi7, Pascal Mbelesso4,5,8, Jean-Pierre Clément4,5,9, Jean-François Dartigues3, Pierre-Marie Preux4,5,10. 1. Univ. Bordeaux, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Bordeaux, France, arlette.edjolo@u-bordeaux.fr. 2. INSERM UMR 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges, France, arlette.edjolo@u-bordeaux.fr. 3. Univ. Bordeaux, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Bordeaux, France. 4. University Limoges, School of Medicine, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, CNRS FR 3503 GEIST, Limoges, France. 5. INSERM UMR 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Limoges, France. 6. King's College London, Centre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Health Service and Population Research Department, London, United Kingdom. 7. Department of Neurology, Amitié Hospital, Bangui, Central African Republic. 8. Department of Neurology, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Congo. 9. Hospital and University Federation of Adult and Geriatric Psychiatry, Limoges, France. 10. CHU, Department of Medical Information and Evaluation, Clinical Research and Biostatistics Unit, Limoges, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are a few validated tools capable of assessing the dimensions essential for the diagnosis of dementia and cognitive disorders in sub-Saharan Africa. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to develop an adapted tool, the Central African - Daily Functioning Interference (DFI) scale. METHODS: An initial 16-item scale of activity limitations and participation restrictions was completed by 301 participants with low cognitive performances to assess their level of DFI. A psychometric evaluation was performed using Item Response Theory. RESULTS: A unidimensional 10-item scale emerged with a reasonable coverage of DFI (thresholds range: -1.067 to 1.587) with good item discrimination properties (1.397-4.076) and a high reliability (Cronbach's al pha = 0.92). The cutoff for detecting 96% of those with dementia was with a latent score ≥0.035 that corresponds to the LAUNDRY limitation. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide valuable support for the reliability and internal validity of an operational 10-item scale for DFI assessment used in Central Africa for the diagnosis of dementia in the elderly.
BACKGROUND: There are a few validated tools capable of assessing the dimensions essential for the diagnosis of dementia and cognitive disorders in sub-Saharan Africa. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to develop an adapted tool, the Central African - Daily Functioning Interference (DFI) scale. METHODS: An initial 16-item scale of activity limitations and participation restrictions was completed by 301 participants with low cognitive performances to assess their level of DFI. A psychometric evaluation was performed using Item Response Theory. RESULTS: A unidimensional 10-item scale emerged with a reasonable coverage of DFI (thresholds range: -1.067 to 1.587) with good item discrimination properties (1.397-4.076) and a high reliability (Cronbach's al pha = 0.92). The cutoff for detecting 96% of those with dementia was with a latent score ≥0.035 that corresponds to the LAUNDRY limitation. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide valuable support for the reliability and internal validity of an operational 10-item scale for DFI assessment used in Central Africa for the diagnosis of dementia in the elderly.