- Design
- Methodological agreement study with randomised order of administration
- Population
- Informants of 51 older adults
- Primary outcome
- Agreement between telephone and in-person IQCODE scores
- Effect
- Total score ICC 0.74; item ICCs 0.17 to 0.98
A methodological study gave the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) to the family members or carers of 51 older adults, both in person and by telephone, in random order 5 to 7 days apart, with different blinded assessors.
Total scores did not differ significantly between methods, and agreement on the total score was good (intraclass correlation 0.74). Agreement on individual items varied widely, from 0.17 to 0.98.
An informant questionnaire by phone could widen access to cognitive screening where travel is hard, as it is for many families in rural India. The total score is the part to rely on; individual items were less consistent.
The sample was small and from one setting, and the questionnaire would need a validated local-language version.
- The IQCODE total score can be gathered by telephone from an informant.
- Rely on the total score; individual items were less consistent.
- Use a validated language version for the family you are calling.
- Follow a positive screen with in-person assessment.
Why it matters
Screening can reach families who cannot bring an older relative to clinic.
The statistics, in plain English
An intraclass correlation of 0.74 indicates good but not perfect agreement. With 51 participants, this estimate is imprecise.
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