Psychometric properties of the Kihon checklist for frailty screening: A scoping review.

Abstract

The Kihon Checklist (KCL) is a brief, multidimensional, and function-oriented instrument for frailty screening. However, a comprehensive synthesis of its psychometric properties remains lacking. This scoping review aimed to map and summarize psychometric evidence on the reliability and validity of the KCL in frailty screening. A systematic search of nine databases identified 22 eligible English-language studies published up to May 31, 2025. Most studies were conducted in community settings and findings on internal consistency reliability and concurrent validity were generally favourable. Evidence for predictive validity was mixed, while content validity was primarily evaluated in cross-cultural adaptation studies. Limited evidence was found for test-retest reliability, split-half reliability, and structural, convergent, or known-groups validity. Overall, the findings suggest that the KCL shows promise as a psychometrically evaluated instrument for frailty screening, especially in community settings. Further research is needed to address current evidence gaps and expand its applicability across diverse populations and clinical contexts.