ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: In this cross-sectional study, we examined the prevalence of the homebound among community-dwelling elderly people who were independent in daily living and similarity in the criteria of three measurement scales of homebound. METHODS: Of all residents aged 65 and older residing in Kishimoto town, Tottori Prefecture (n = 1,383), 1,316 (95.2%) who were living at home participated in a baseline survey in October 2001. All the subjects were independent in daily living. They were asked to fill out a questionnaire, which was delivered to them by a member of a public committee. We examined the prevalence of the homebound using three measurement scales (capability of leaving the house independently, frequency of going outdoors, and place of daily activities) with the chi-square test. RESULTS: The prevalences of the homebound were 4.2% for the capability of leaving the house independently, 26.8% for the frequency of going outdoors, and 8.4% for the place of daily activities. The significant factors for the homebound were age and gender. Differences in prevalence were noted by judging the three measurement scales. In typical farming villages, the prevalence of the homebound going outdoors less than once a week was higher than that in other areas. The criteria of the three measurement scales for the homebound were not similar (Cohen's Kappa = 0.13, 0.12, 0.27). CONCLUSIONS: We considered that using three measurement scales together in the study of the prevalence of the homebound is practical. The monitoring of the rate of mortality and disabilities associated with being homebound should be continued.
