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Lambeth Disability Screening Questionnaire
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About Lambeth Disability Screening Questionnaire
Scale Name
Lambeth Disability Screening Questionnaire
Author Details
Donald L. Patrick and colleagues
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Lambeth Disability Screening Questionnaire (LDSQ), developed by Donald L. Patrick and colleagues in 1981, is a postal or interviewer-administered screening tool designed to estimate the prevalence of physical disability in adults (aged 16+) living in the community for planning health and social services. Published in Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (1981), it is based on the impairment-disability-handicap triad, focusing on difficulties in performing activities rather than capacity. The LDSQ assesses five domains: Body Movement (e.g., dexterity), Ambulation and Mobility (e.g., walking, stairs), Self-Care (e.g., bathing, dressing), Social Activity (e.g., work, social engagement), and Sensory Problems (e.g., vision, hearing). It also records impairments causing disability and handicaps affecting housework, employment, and social activities.
The third version (22 items, interviewer-administered) is the focus here, with 13 items retained from earlier versions, two new, two reintroduced, and five reworded. It uses a yes/no response format with weighted scoring to classify respondents as “disabled” based on difficulties in ambulation/mobility, body care/movement, sensory-motor issues (except isolated vertigo), or social activities (except work limitations for retirees). The LDSQ was validated in the Lambeth Health Survey with 11,659 households (86.6% response rate, mean age ≈ 35–74 years, mixed gender, UK-based), identifying 892 disabled respondents. It correlates with the Functional Limitations Profile (FLP; r ≈ 0.79 for physical, r ≈ 0.50 for psychosocial). The LDSQ is used in public health, rehabilitation, and social services to estimate disability prevalence and inform resource allocation. Access requires permission from Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health or related archives.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the LDSQ (third version) from Patrick et al. (1981) or authorized sources (e.g., Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health), ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (adults 16+ in community settings) that the questionnaire screens for physical disability, emphasizing confidentiality and voluntary participation.
- Administer the 22-item scale via interview (third version) or postal survey (earlier versions) in community or health settings, asking participants to answer yes/no questions about activity difficulties.
- Estimated completion time is 5–10 minutes for interviews.
- Ensure a private, supportive environment; provide health or social service resources (e.g., disability support contacts) and adapt for accessibility (e.g., oral administration for low literacy) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The LDSQ has limited but promising psychometric data (Patrick et al., 1981; Charlton et al., 1985). Reliability for the third version is not fully reported, but the first version showed 100% test-retest agreement on disability classification for 68 respondents over 3–6 months, with some item-level discrepancies. Internal consistency is not specified but inferred as moderate (Cronbach’s alpha ≈ 0.70–0.80) based on similar scales.
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with the FLP (r = 0.79 for physical subscale, r = 0.50 for psychosocial subscale) in a sample of 839 respondents. Criterion validity is evidenced by a sensitivity of 87.7% and specificity of 72.2% against the FLP, though health status changes between assessments may lower these estimates. Low agreement with family physician assessments suggests underreporting by doctors. The scale’s yes/no format and weighted scoring enhance its utility for prevalence estimation. Pairing with the Barthel Index or Functional Independence Measure improves comprehensive assessment.
Available Versions
25-Items
Reference
Patrick, D. L., Darby, S. C., Green, S., Horton, G., Locker, D., & Wiggins, R. D. (1981). Screening for disability in the inner city. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 35(1), 65-70.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Lambeth Disability Screening Questionnaire measure?
It screens for physical disability in mobility, self-care, social activity, and sensory domains.
Who is the target population?
Adults (16+) in community settings for health and social service planning.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 5–10 minutes (interview format).
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it estimates disability prevalence to guide health and social service planning.
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