Onset and persistence of person-perceived participation restriction in older adults: a 3-year follow-up study in the general population
2008

Participation Restrictions in Older Adults Over Three Years

Sample size: 6965 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Wilkie Ross, Thomas Elaine, Mottram Sara, Peat George, Croft Peter

Primary Institution: Arthritis Research Campaign National Primary Care Centre, Primary Care Sciences, Keele University

Hypothesis

What is the change in person-perceived participation restriction in older adults over a three-year period?

Conclusion

Most older adults do not change their overall participation status over three years, but some do experience changes, indicating potential for interventions.

Supporting Evidence

  • 69% of participants did not change their overall participation status over three years.
  • 29.8% of those with no restriction at baseline reported restriction at follow-up.
  • 68.8% of those with restriction at baseline continued to report restriction after three years.
  • Onset of restriction increased with age, particularly for mobility outside the home.

Takeaway

This study looked at how older people feel about their ability to participate in life activities over three years, finding that while many stay the same, some do change.

Methodology

A prospective cohort study using postal questionnaires at baseline and a 3-year follow-up.

Potential Biases

There may be risks of bias due to selective attrition and responder bias.

Limitations

The study faced issues with attrition and potential measurement error.

Participant Demographics

Participants were community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and over.

Statistical Information

Confidence Interval

95% confidence interval: 27.6%, 32.0%

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1477-7525-6-92

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