Test–retest Reliability of Perceived Wellness Survey among Community-dwelling Geriatric Population: An Observational Study

Abstract Introduction: The aging population faces unique challenges, so incorporating their perspective is necessary for providing patient-centered care and enhancing the quality of life for older adults. However, this self-assessed well-being of the elderly population is not extensively documented, despite being a key approach in the health and welfare domain. The Perceived Wellness Survey (PWS), designed to assess well-being across multiple dimensions, could be suitable for determining wellness among the elderly. Therefore, this study seeks to evaluate the test–retest reliability of the PWS among the geriatric population. Subjects and Methods: An observational study was conducted which included 100 subjects in the age group of 60–74 years, at a government tertiary care hospital, in Mumbai, after procuring approval from the departmental review board. The participants completed the questionnaire at two different time points, separated by 1 week. The test–retest reliability was assessed using the Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient test, and the internal consistency was tested by Cronbach’s alpha. Results: One hundred subjects were recruited, of which 45% were female and 55% were male, with a mean age of 66.38 ± 3.96 years. The Pearson coefficients for test–retest reliability among observations varied between 0.870 and 0.946, indicating good reliability. Internal consistency ranges between 0.930 and 0.970, suggesting excellent reliability. Conclusion: The PWS is a reliable and internally consistent tool for assessing wellness perception among the geriatric population.