This paper systematically reviews the tools used to study dependence and disability in individuals older than 65 years and the predictors employed in analysing the trajectory of functional decline in this population. The search was conducted using the Scopus database and 23 out of the 734 available research abstracts were selected using ad hoc categories. The instruments and predictors were coded according to display format, domain of activity, and outcome measurement (disability or dependence). The results show limitations in the way the measures are conceptualized and selected, due to the lack of a standardized definition of the concepts and the inappropriate interpretation of test scores. Future research should explicitly distinguish dependence from disability, and correctly validate existing instruments or construct new ones using modern psychometric models.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue revisar sistemáticamente los instrumentos que se utilizan para estudiar la dependencia y la discapacidad en las personas mayores de 65 años y los predictores empleados en el análisis de la trayectoria de deterioro funcional en esta población. La búsqueda se realizó en la base de datos Scopus de donde se seleccionaron, utilizando categorías creadas ad hoc, 23 investigaciones de los 734 resúmenes disponibles. Los instrumentos y predictores se codificaron según el formato de presentación, el dominio de actividad y la medida empleada (discapacidad o dependencia). Los resultados muestran limitaciones en la conceptualización y elección de las medidas, debido a que no se emplea una definición estandarizada de los constructos y a las interpretaciones inadecuadas de las puntuaciones de los tests. Investigaciones futuras deberían diferenciar explícitamente la dependencia de la discapacidad y validar adecuadamente los instrumentos ya existentes, o bien construir nuevos tests haciendo uso de modelos psicométricos modernos.

O objetivo do estudo foi construir um teste de reconhecimento pelo modelo de Rach composto por 64 itens de reconhecimento, 32 itens estudados e 32 distratores. Os itens compreendiam pares de palavras escritas ou de figuras, eram modais ou transmodais e metade pertencia a uma mesma categoria semântica e metade a diferentes categorias. Os pares foram agrupados por essas características e hipotetizou-se que esses grupos seguissem uma determinada ordem de dificuldade e que suas médias de dificuldade se diferenciassem significativamente. O teste foi aplicado coletivamente em 231 estudantes de uma universidade particular. Os resultados indicaram um bom ajuste dos itens em relação ao infit e outfit e um bom índice de precisão. A ordem de dificuldade esperada foi obtida empiricamente, mas não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as médias de todas as categorias dos itens.

The aim of this study was to construct a recognition test, using the Rasch model, composed of 64 items to be recognized, 32 items for study and 32 distracters. The pairs of items comprised written words or figures, they were either modal or cross-modal; half of them belonged to the same semantic category and the other half to a variety of other categories. The pairs were grouped according to these features and it was predicted that they would follow a given order of difficulty and that their mean of difficulty would be significantly different. The test was collectively administered to 231 students from a private university. The outcomes indicated a very good item fit as regards infit and outfit and also a good index of precision. The expected orders of difficulty were obtained empirically, although the means of some groups of items were not significantly different.