Developing a comprehensive measure of mobility: mobility over varied environments scale (MOVES).
BACKGROUND
While recent work emphasizes the multi-dimensionality of mobility, no current measure incorporates multiple domains of mobility. Using existing conceptual frameworks we identified four domains of mobility (physical, cognitive, social, transportation) to create a "Mobility Over Varied Environments Scale" (MOVES). We then assessed expected patterns of MOVES in the Canadian population.


METHODS
An expert panel identified survey items within each MOVES domain from the Canadian Community Health Survey- Healthy Aging Cycle (2008-2009) for 28,555 (weighted population n = 12,805,067) adults (≥45 years). We refined MOVES using principal components analysis and Cronbach's alpha and weighted items so each domain was 10 points. Expected mobility trends, as assessed by average MOVES, were examined by sociodemographic and health factors, and by province, using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).


RESULTS
MOVES ranged from 0 to 40, where 0 represents individuals who are immobile and 40 those who are fully mobile. Mean MOVES was 29.58 (95% confidence interval (CI) 29.49, 29.67) (10th percentile: 24.17 (95% CI 23.96, 24.38), 90th percentile: 34.70 (CI 34.55, 34.85)). MOVES scores were lower for older, female, and non-white Canadians with worse health and lower socioeconomic status. MOVES was also lower for those who live in less urban areas.


CONCLUSIONS
MOVES is a holistic measure of mobility for characterizing older adult mobility across populations. Future work should examine individual or neighborhood predictors of MOVES and its relationship to broader health outcomes. MOVES holds utility for research, surveillance, evaluation, and interventions around the broad factors influencing mobility in older adults.
['Hirsch|Jana A|JA|', 'Winters|Meghan|M|0000-0001-9932-0255', 'Sims-Gould|Joanie|J|', 'Clarke|Philippa J|PJ|', 'Ste-Marie|Nathalie|N|', 'Ashe|Maureen|M|', 'McKay|Heather A|HA|']
D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D002170:Canada D003071:Cognition D004777:Environment D015444:Exercise D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007398:Interpersonal Relations D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D051346:Mobility Limitation D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D014186:Transportation
Measurement Transportation Methods Aged, Elderly Functionally-Impaired elderly Mobility limitation Social interaction Surveys and questionnaires