Article

High quality guidance in home strategies is needed to enable older
people to measure their home environment and become involved in the provision of
assistive devices and to promote consistency among professionals. This study aims
to investigate the reliability of such guidance and its ability to promote
accuracy of results when measurements are taken by both older people and
professionals. Method: Twenty-five health professionals and 26 older people
participated in a within-group design to test the accuracy of measurements taken
(that is, person's popliteal height, baths, toilets, beds, stairs and chairs).
Data were analysed with descriptive analysis and the Wilcoxon test. The
intra-rater reliability was assessed by correlating measurements taken at two
different times with guidance use. Results: The intra-rater reliability analysis
revealed statistical significance (P < 0.05) for all measurements except for the
bath internal width. The guidance enabled participants to take 90% of
measurements that they were not able to complete otherwise, 80.55% of which lay
within the acceptable suggested margin of variation. Accuracy was supported by
the significant reduction in the standard deviation of the actual measurements
and accuracy scores. Conclusion: This evidence-based guidance can be used in its
current format by older people and professionals to facilitate appropriate
measurements. Yet, some users might need help from carers or specialists
depending on their impairments.

Langue : ANGLAIS