A new screening tool for self-neglect in community-dwelling older adults: IMSelf-neglect questionnaire

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop a new screening tool for self-neglect in community-dwelling self-sufficient older adults. METHODS: = 226, 142 female, 84 male). Construct validity was based on social-worker's interview as a gold-standard method. The cut-off threshold for IMSelf-neglect questionnaire was calculated from ROC-analysis using cut-off values that predicted social-worker's opinion whether the older adult has self-neglect. RESULTS: < .001). The social worker confirmed 16.8% of the participants have self-neglect by the gold-standard clinical interview. Participants with self-neglect had decreased functionality, worse quality of life and tended to have more depression compared with participants without self-neglect. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: We developed the IMSelf-neglect questionnaire as a valid and reliable tool to screen self-neglect in outpatient clinics complementary to comprehensive geriatric assessment.