Are clients' performances on the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale associated with their functional performance? A preliminary investigation

Abstract

Introduction

The process of selecting the most appropriate cognitive assessments to use with clients presenting with symptoms of dementia is an important consideration. Are cognitive assessment results associated with the functional performance of clients presenting suspected cognitive decline? The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale was associated with the functional performance of clients with suspected dementia.

Method

A within-subjects quantitative research design was employed whereby a sample of 30 participants suspected of having dementia were recruited from three acute care hospital sites in the Melbourne metropolitan region. The Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale was used to assess participants' cognitive abilities, while the Functional Independence Measure was the functional scale used. Linear regression analyses were completed.

Results

The six Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale items were found to be significantly linked with the Functional Independence Measure total score (adjusted R² = 0.298, p < 0.05), the Functional Independence Measure ‘cognition’ subscale score (adjusted R² = 0.349, p < 0.05) and the Functional Independence Measure ‘physical’ subscale score (adjusted R² = 0.244; p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale appears to be associated with the functional performance of clients with suspected dementia. The findings provide an insight into the link between cognition and everyday functional performance.