Development and expert validation of the Cognitive Load of Activity Participation scale (CLAPs) for older adults

AIM: This study develops the Cognitive Load of Activity Participation scale (CLAPs) and establishes its expert validity. CLAPs is designed to evaluate the perceived cognitive load and participation frequency of activities of daily life in older adults. METHODS: Items of the preliminary version of CLAPs were compiled based on extensive literature reviews and field feedback from face-to-face focus groups with 40 older adults of diverse demographic backgrounds. The modified Delphi technique was then employed to modify and trim items through two rounds of inputs from a selected panel of experts. The panel (n = 16) was formed by experts from diverse healthcare professions. RESULTS: The preliminary version of CLAPs consisted of 47 items covering five categories of activities: daily and housework activities, leisure and entertainment activities, social participation activities, productive activities, and learning activities. After modification, the first version of CLAPs retained 28 items, with a content validity index of 0.96, achieving a high consensus. CONCLUSIONS: CLAPs is the first self-report questionnaire that offers insights into the daily cognitive activity engagement of older adults and may provide clinicians with a basis for tailored lifestyle recommendations. Further psychometric evaluation with a large sample size is necessary. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; 25: 939-945.