Variation in Sources of Clinician-Rated and Self-Rated Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Disability

Background. It is unclear how well self-reports and clinician ratings of performance in the instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs; household maintenance tasks) correspond and why they may differ. Methods. We assessed clinician-rated IADL performance using an occupational therapy protocol, the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). AMPS and self-rated IADL disability were compared in two groups of nondemented elderly persons without ADL limitation: a group with functional limitation only (self-reported difficulty in some area of upper or lower body function, n = 139) and a group that reported functional limitation plus IADL disability (difficulty in at least one IADL task, n = 49). Occupational therapists were blind to self-reports, and all assessments were conducted in respondent homes. Results. Self-rated IADL disability was significantly associated with the AMPS motor skill score (r = −.34, p