@article{ref1,
title="Developing an alternative version of the Epworth sleepiness scale to assess daytime  sleepiness in adults with physical or mental disabilities",
journal="Gerontology",
year="2020",
author="Gronewold, Janine and Lenuck, Michelle Chantal Isidora and Gülderen, Isra and Scharf, Anne-Carina and Penzel, Thomas and Johns, Murray W. and Frohnhofen, Helmut and Hermann, Dirk M.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a frequent symptom with many  possible causes, and many of these can be treated. EDS and its underlying causes  have been associated with various negative health consequences. Recognition of EDS  is thus an important public health concern. The concept of EDS is, however, not yet  well defined, and different measures are used to diagnose EDS. The Epworth  Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is the most widely used tool to assess daytime sleepiness in  a broad range of populations. Its applicability in patients exhibiting physical or  mental disabilities, like older multimorbid patients, is limited, since the ESS was  not developed and validated in this patient group. <br><br>METHODS: Within an expert study  with 35 sleep medicine experts and a pilot study with 52 geriatric in-patients, who  frequently exhibit physical or mental disabilities, and patients' close relatives,  we adapted the original ESS to develop an alternative version to assess daytime  sleepiness in adults with physical or mental disabilities (ESS-ALT). <br><br>RESULTS: In  this adapted version, items 3 (sitting inactively in a public place) and 8 (sleepy  in traffic) were replaced by 2 new items (sitting in a waiting room, sitting and  eating a meal) and an interview format was used. This ESS-ALT achieved fewer missing  responses (23 vs. 73%) and a higher level of internal consistency (Cronbach's α =  0.64 vs. 0.23) than the original ESS while keeping its somnificity structure. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The ESS-ALT achieves better psychometric properties than the original  ESS for individuals with physical or mental disabilities.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0304-324X",
doi="10.1159/000511361",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000511361"
}