Aging is a process that is inevitable in any organism. The effect of aging can involve the decline of cognitive function which can be normal or abnormal. A good assessment or instrument is necessary to aid practitioners in screening or detecting any kind of cognitive decline, especially in daily problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Objectives: The current study aims to test: (1) the internal consistency and reliability of the original 28-item Everyday Problems Test (EPT) and the Malaysian Everyday Problems Test (MEPT) version of 14 items; (2) the relationship between everyday problem-solving and demographic factors; and (3) the demographic differences in the various domains of everyday problem-solving. Methods: The sample included 291 healthy and community-dwelling Malaysian older adults within the Klang Valley vicinity, with a mean age of 66.3 years. Variables included demographic factors of age, gender, and education, the Everyday Problem Test (EPT), and the Malaysian Everyday Problems Test (MEPT). Results: Both the EPT and MEPT showed good internal consistency and reliability values. It was also discovered that certain domains of the EPT and MEPT are more influenced by demographic factors, especially educational level, compared to others.
Conclusion: The MEPT is proven to be as acceptable as the original EPT. It can be used to measure older adults’ cognitive performance, particularly in solving everyday problems among a Malaysian sample.
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