Instruments to assess independence: a Scoping Review

Abstract

Introduction: Independence is a privileged area of intervention for nurses. Most situations that motivate hospitalizations lead to a considerable decrease in the person's independence. There are many scales that measure independence, so it is important to know them and how to apply them properly.
Methodology: Scoping review based on the principles advocated by the Joanna Briggs Institute. A search was carried out in the following databases: Scopus (excluding MEDLINE), CINAHL complete (via EBSCO, excluding MEDLINE) and MEDLINE (via PubMed).
Results: After the analysis according to the established inclusion criteria, 26 articles were selected, which allude to six different instruments that assess independence, namely Functional Independence Measurement, Instrumental Activity of Daily Living Scale, Barthel Index, Katz Index of Independece in Activities of Daily Living, the Assessment of Living Skills and Resources and the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation.
Discussion: Instrument titles sometimes do not translate if they only measure and/or only independence. When the application of the different instruments is combined, it enables, as a whole, to respond to the concept of independence.
Conclusion: In clinical practice, it is important to know all the instruments available in order to apply them, also knowing their characteristics and applicability. It is recognized that the results of the application of these tools allow for the characterization of people's needs and permits a response, in a timely manner, to those needs.