Oubaya N, Mahmoudi R, Jolly D, et al.
J Nutr Health Aging 2014;18:757-64
Publication date: August 1, 2014
Summary
The objective of this study by Oubaya et al. was to validate the modified version of the Short Emergency Geriatric Assessment (SEGAm) frailty instrument in elderly people living at home. Between July 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013, 167 patients were included in the study. Averaged age was 77 ± 7 years and the majority of subjects were women (70.7%).
Feasibility and acceptability of the SEGAm instrument were excellent: authors observed no refusal to participate, no drop-out during administration, no missing items, no ceiling or floor effects, and the administration time was short (5.0 ± 3.5 min). By factor analysis, the instrument proved to be unidimensional. It showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient: 0.68) and good test-retest (intra-class correlation: 0.88) at 7 days interval. Discriminant validity showed a significant difference, mainly for nutritional status, fall risk, dependency, mood and depression risk, and comorbidities.
Based on these psychometric properties, the SEGAm appears to be an easy-to-use instrument that is particularly suitable for use in the community to identify frail elderly people who could benefit from early targeted interventions.