Abstract
Pfeffer's Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ) is one of the most commonly employed tools in studies on pathological cognitive aging. Despite the different versions of the questionnaire translated for use in clinical practice, few studies have analyzed the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the FAQ (P-FAQ). Thus, the aim of the present study was to analyze the P-FAQ with regard to internal consistency, factorial structure and associations with demographic factors (age, sex, and schooling), depressive symptoms, cognitive measures and other measures of functionality. One hundred sixty-one older adults were divided into four groups (91 with dementia, 46 with mild cognitive impairment, 11 with psychiatric disorders and 13 healthy controls). All participants were evaluated by cognitive, behavioral and functional tests and scales. Their caregivers answered the P-FAQ. The questionnaire showed high internal consistency (α = 0.91). Factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure, which, accounted for 66% of the total variance. The P-FAQ was not correlated with demographic factors, was weakly correlated with depressive symptoms (ϱ = 0.271, p < 0.01, R2 = 7%) and strongly correlated with cognitive measures (Matttis Dementia Rating Scale total score: ϱ = −0.574, p < 0.01, R2 = 33%) as well as complex instrumental activities of daily living (ϱ = −0.845, p < 0.01, R2 = 71%). Cognitive performance and depression status were independent predictors of P-FAQ scores in regression models. The present findings indicate that the P-FAQ has satisfactory reliability, internal consistency, construct validity and ecological validity. Therefore, this questionnaire can be used in clinical practice and research involving the Brazilian population of older adults.
Highlights
The proportion of older adults in the general population has increased in recent years due mainly to the demographic explosion in past decades as well as improvements in living conditions and quality of life (Lin et al, 2012)
The present findings indicate that the P-Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ) has satisfactory reliability, internal consistency, construct validity and ecological validity
The formal diagnosis of dementia requires the adequate characterization of functional impairment, which is non-existent or less impacting in conditions such as mild cognitive impairment (Petersen et al, 2001; Yassuda et al, 2010; Brown et al, 2011; de Paula and Malloy-Diniz, 2013)
Summary
The proportion of older adults in the general population has increased in recent years due mainly to the demographic explosion in past decades as well as improvements in living conditions and quality of life (Lin et al, 2012). With the increase in life expectancy, disabling diseases associated with the aging process have become more prevalent. Functional status is one of the most important aspects of geriatric evaluations and extremely relevant to diagnostic procedures, as atypical cognitive and behavioral manifestations often stem from normal aging. Neuropsychiatric disorders, such as dementia (Lopes and Bottino, 2002), depression and psychosis (Hoffmann et al, 2010) are characterized by persistent cognitive and functional dysfunction, resulting in limitations that worsen with the progression of the disease. Evidence of functional impairment constitutes an important indicator of pathological aging (Freitas and Miranda, 2011)
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