Background Ageing in place has recently gained visibility in healthcare policies and services. Technology has the potential to facilitate independence at home. The objective of this systematic review is to identify technologies that have been rigorously evaluated for supporting the ageing in place of healthy older adults. As well we explored the methods in engagement with technology in healthy older adults. Methods Databases Pubmed, Scopus, PsycInfo and Cinahl were consulted for clinical controlled trials or randomised controlled trials between 2014 and 2019. Studies were included if they contained a technological intervention and focussed on supporting healthy older adults’ independent living. PRISMA guidelines and the risk of bias tool of the Cochrane Collaboration were applied. Results The search identified 3662 articles of which only 7 made the final analysis. Through narrative analysis, technologies were categorised into three groups: accessible communication, emergency assistance and physical and mental well-being. Patient-centredness was extensively addressed by exploring how the participants engaged in the development and evaluation of the technology and how they were trained and monitored. Conclusions Literature concerning technology to support ageing, based on controlled trials and research performed in authentic home situations, is scarce. Thus, there is a need to investigate the subject in depth. The use of a neurofeedback headband, an accessible computer system, a wristband with pedometer, a biofeedback device and an online video platform can bring added value to ageing in place for healthy older adults. A patient-centred approach for developing, implementing and evaluating technology benefits ageing in place.

This is the first study to examine the feasibility and reliability of the OHAT as used by speech pathologists. As the results showed both good feasibility and reliability, the OHAT has the potential to add to the clinical swallowing examination. However, future research investigating actual referral strategies and adaptation of care strategies following assessment with OHAT is needed.

BackgroundThe Swallowing Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QoL) is considered the gold standard for assessing health-related QoL in oropharyngeal dysphagia. The Dutch translation (DSWAL-QoL) and its adjusted version (aDSWAL-QoL) have been validated using classical test theory (CTT). However, these scales have not been tested against the Rasch measurement model, which is required to establish the structural validity and objectivity of the total scale and subscale scores. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of these scales using item analysis according to the Rasch model.MethodsItem analysis with the Rasch model was performed using RUMM2030 software with previously collected data from a validation study of 108 patients. The assessment included evaluations of overall model fit, reliability, unidimensionality, threshold ordering, individual item and person fits, differential item functioning (DIF), local item dependency (LID) and targeting.ResultsThe analysis could not establish the psychometric properties of either of the scales or their subscales because they did not fit the Rasch model, and multidimensionality, disordered thresholds, DIF, and/or LID were found. The reliability and power of fit were high for the total scales (PSI = 0.93) but low for most of the subscales (PSI < 0.70). The targeting of persons and items was suboptimal. The main source of misfit was disordered thresholds for both the total scales and subscales. Based on the results of the analysis, adjustments to improve the scales were implemented as follows: disordered thresholds were rescaled, misfit items were removed and items were split for DIF. However, the multidimensionality and LID could not be resolved. The reliability and power of fit remained low for most of the subscales.ConclusionsThis study represents the first analyses of the DSWAL-QoL and aDSWAL-QoL with the Rasch model. Relying on the DSWAL-QoL and aDSWAL-QoL total and subscale scores to make conclusions regarding dysphagia-related HRQoL should be treated with caution before the structural validity and objectivity of both scales have been established. A larger and well-targeted sample is recommended to derive definitive conclusions about the items and scales. Solutions for the psychometric weaknesses suggested by the model and practical implications are discussed.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12955-017-0639-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Swallowing Quality-of-Life questionnaire (SWAL-QoL) is considered the gold standard for assessing health-related quality of life in people with dysphagia. However, many dysphagic patients struggle to complete this questionnaire because of additional functional sequelae such as language impairment and cognitive disorders. In this study, we sought to develop an adjusted Dutch version of the SWAL-QoL (aDSWALQoL) and to evaluate its psychometric properties and feasibility compared with the original questionnaire. We developed the aDSWAL-QoL based on recommendations from previous literature. The feasibility, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and criterion validity of the aDSWAL-QoL were evaluated in 78 dysphagic patients, among whom 43 had additional language and/or cognitive impairments (DysLC). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 20.0. The aDSWAL-QoL had a higher degree of feasibility for the DysLC group. We obtained high Cronbach's α coefficients for total scale and for almost all subscales. Total aDSWAL-QoL scores showed excellent testretest agreement and good criterion validity with respect to the DSWAL-QoL. Almost all subscales showed significantly moderate to good test-retest agreement and criterion validity. However, the psychometric properties of the 'Food selection' subscale were inadequate. The aDSWAL-QoL is a feasible, reliable, and valid tool for use with DysLC patients. Conversion of the aDSWAL-QoL into an audio computer-assisted self-administered format should be investigated. The construct validity of the aDSWAL-QoL will be evaluated in a separate report.

The objective is to systematically review the psychometric properties and the clinical utility of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and proxy-reported outcome measures that assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients receiving enteral feeding to make recommendations for use in clinical practice and research. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the psychometric properties and the clinical utility of:The research question is: What are the psychometric properties and the clinical utility of these measures? We will summarize evidence on the following properties: validity (content validity, criterion-related validity, construct validity, floor and ceiling effects), reliability (reproducibility and internal consistency) and responsiveness and clinical utility (interpretability and feasibility to complete the PROM and the proxy-reported outcome measure).

Psychometric propertiesResults: 9,573,420 #4 "instrumentation"[MeSH Subheading] OR "methods"[MeSH Subheading] OR "psychometrics"[MeSH Terms] OR "psychometr*"[Title/Abstract] OR "clinimetr*"[Text Word] OR "clinometr*"[Text Word] OR "outcome assessment, health care"[MeSH Terms] OR "outcome assessment"[Title/Abstract] OR "outcome measure*"[Text Word] OR "observer variation"[MeSH Terms] OR "observer variation"[Title/Abstract] OR "Health Status Indicators"[MeSH Terms] OR "reproducibility of results"[MeSH Terms] OR "reproducib*"[Title/Abstract] OR "discriminant analysis"[MeSH Terms] OR "reliab*"

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