In comparison with at least one previous study (Prados 2007), our findings reflect some potential item limitations.
The study identified ten main types of limitation in these practices reported in the literature: sample characteristic limitations, methodological limitations, psychometric limitations, qualitative research limitations, missing data, social desirability bias, item limitations, brevity of the scale, difficulty controlling all variables, and lack of manual instructions.
Lastly, it was expected that limitations in all ADLs were associated with higher needs on the Control over daily life item, limitations in personal care ADLs with higher needs on the Personal cleanliness and comfort item, and limitations in food-related ADLs with higher needs on the Food and drink item (all confirmed).
The portion of missing values was 9.5% in one item (item 17 "limitations in sports because of a heart problem") and 26.2% in another (item 17 "limitations in sexual intercourse").
Initially, we tested the fit of one and two factor models for the 16-item limitation domain using baseline data.
The four 7-point items showed high correlations (greater than 0.7) with the ECOS-16 score, the item 'Limitation in daily activities' being the highest correlated item (0.82).
This self-reported measure is composed of eight separate scales assessing physical functioning (10 items), role limitations due to physical health (4 items), role limitations due to emotional problems (3 items), energy/fatigue (4 items), emotional well-being (5 items), social functioning (2 items), pain (2 items) and general health (5 items).
The eight domains are: physical function (10 items), role limitations caused by physical problems (4 items), role limitations caused by emotional problems (3 items), pain (2 items), general health perceptions (5 items), social function (2 items), emotional well-being (5 items), and energy/fatigue (4 items).
It contains 8 domains: physical functioning (10 items), role limitations due to physical health problems (4 items), role limitations due to emotional problems (3 items), energy/fatigue (4 items), emotional well-being (5 items), social functioning (2 items), pain (2 items), and general health (5 items).
This instrument consists of eight subscales [ 36, 37]: physical functioning (10 items), role limitations due to physical health (4 items), bodily pain (2 items), general health (5 items), role limitations due to emotional problems (3 items), energy/vitality (4 items), mental health (5 items), social functioning (2 items).
