Feasibility, Interrater Reliability and Internal Consistency of the German Environmental Audit Tool (G-EAT)

Dementia-specific environmental design has the potential to positively influence capabilities for daily living and quality of life in people with dementia living in nursing homes. To date, no reliable instrument exists for systematically assessing the adequacy of these built environments in Germany. This study aimed to test the adapted version of the Environmental Audit Tool—High Care (EAT-HC)—the German Environmental Audit Tool (G-EAT)—with regard to its feasibility, interrater reliability and internal consistency. The G-EAT was applied as a paper-pencil version in the German setting; intraclass correlation coefficients at the subscale level ranged from 0.662 (III) to 0.869 (IV), and 42% of the items showed at least substantial agreement (Cohen’s kappa ≥ 0.60). The results indicate the need to develop supplementary material in a manual that illustrates the meaning of the items and practical implications regarding dementia-specific environmental design. Furthermore, the intersectionality of built and physical environments must be considered when interpreting G-EAT results in future research and applications to residential long-term care practice.