Variable Details

Available Studies

ROS, MAP, MARS, Clinical Core, LATC

Scaled? 

Not Scaled

Variable Type 

Longitudinal

Variable Name 

katzsum

Categories

Disabilities

Basic activities of daily living
Basic activities of daily living - Sum of 6 items

Basic activities of daily living (ADL) is a composite measure of disability, measured with the Katz Activities of Daily Living Scale. The scale measures six basic physical abilities: walking across a small room, bathing, dressing, eating, getting from bed to chair, and toileting.

Participants are asked to report need for help/assistance in performing the ADLs. Responses are then dichotomized into 0 = no help and 1 = requires help or unable to do (see below). The composite measure ranges from 0 to 6 and is the sum of the number of items for which participants report the need for help/assistance, with higher scores indicating greater disability.

Participants are asked the following six questions:

Do you need help, either from another person or a special equipment or device...

  1. walking across a small room?
  2. bathing, either a sponge bath, tub bath or shower?
  3. dressing, like putting on a shirt, buttoning and zipping, or putting on shoes?
  4. eating, like holding a fork, cutting food, or drinking from a glass?
  5. getting from a bed to chair?
  6. using the toilet?

Response choices for each item:

ResponseResponse codeDichotomized value
No help10
Requires help21
Unable to do31

Publications