Portuguese version (original):
Sousa, L. B., Vilar, M., Firmino, H., & Simões, M. R. (2013). IACFin@: Instrumento de Avaliação da Capacidade Financeira (IACFin), Versão experimental: Manual de Administração e cotação (97páginas). Coimbra: Serviço de Avaliação Psicológica/PsyAssessmentLab. Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade de Coimbra.
Sousa, L. B., Vilar, M., Firmino, H., & Simões, M. R. (2013). IACFin@: Instrumento de Avaliação da Capacidade Financeira (IACFin), Versão experimental: Caderno de Registo (15 páginas). Coimbra: Serviço de Avaliação Psicológica/PsyAssessmentLab. Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade de Coimbra.
Theoretical background
The Financial Capacity Assessment Instrument (IACFin; Instrumento de Avaliação da Capacidade Financeira) was developed to provide a specific answer in assessing the functional skills involved in Financial Capacity. Within a comprehensive psychological assessment protocol, the IACFin will enable an objective and quantified assessment of financial capacity, allowing a specialized clinical response to the Portuguese legal system, particularly in the Guardianship processes, as well as in the formalization of donations or the heritage provision.
Description
Assessment Domain: Functional skills involved in Financial Capacity.
Dimensions:
The IACFin includes 3 main modules, with their respective domains, namely:
(i) Screening: Domain 1. Orientation; Domain 2. Sensory screening; Domain 3. Motor screen; Domain 4. Attention and awareness;
(ii) General Financial Skills: Domain 1. Values and preferences; Domain 2. Basic monetary skills; Domain 3. Purchasing; Domain 4. Payment of bills; Domain 5. Banking business; Domain 6. Decision making; Domain 7. Risk assessment of property crime; Domain 8. Instruments for will supply;
(iii) Disposition of Heritage: Domain 1. Determination of heritage; Domain 2. Donations; Domain 3. Wills.
Studies
The investigations already carried out include a qualitative study, to determine their ecological validity (skills with relevance to the Portuguese population and to the Portuguese legal system in force) and content validity (items/tasks representing the skills listed in the literature and other instruments evaluation). Now, the first studies of a quantitative nature are still being conducted, with a view to establishing normative parameters for the Portuguese population.
Future research
Future research includes validation studies with clinical samples (DCL, Dementia), forensics (regime of the largest accompanied, elaboration of donations, wills or other legal acts) and institutionalized elderly population, as well as the development of reduced versions.
In this sense, research partnerships have already been established aimed at continuing studies with this instrument, although we remain receptive to expressions of interest in studies with the IACFin.
Funding
Abordagem funcional na determinação da capacidade financeira e testamentária: Linhas orientadoras e desenvolvimento de instrumentos de avaliação [Functional approach in determining financial and testamentary capacity: Guidelines and development of assessment instruments]. Projeto de doutoramento financiado pela Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/47677/2008) [Grant, Ph.D Thesis, Liliana B. Sousa].
Validação de provas de memória e de inventários de avaliação funcional e de qualidade de vida [Validation of memory tests and functional assessment and quality of life inventories]. Projeto de investigação financiado pela Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (Research project: Proc.º 74569; SHD-22 Neurociences) (PI: Mário R. Simões)
Contacts
Liliana B. Sousa (bapt.liliana@gmail.com).
References
- Sousa, L. B., Vilar, M., Firmino, H., & Simões, M. R. (2018). Measuring financial competency. In R. J. Cohen, & M. E. Swerdlik (Eds.), Psychological testing and assessment: An introduction to tests and measurement (9thed., pp. 473-474). McGraw-Hill Education.
- Sousa, L. B., Simões, M. R., Firmino, H., & Peisah, C. (2014). Financial and testamentary capacity evaluations: Procedures and assessment instruments underneath a functional approach. International Psychogeriatrics, 26(2), 217-228. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610213001828
- Sousa, L.B., Vilar, M., Firmino, H., & Simões, M.R. (2015). Financial Capacity Assessment Instrument (IACFin): Development and qualitative study using focus groups. Psychology, Psychiatry, and Law, 22(4), 571-585. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2014.960038
- Sousa, L. B. (2015). Abordagem funcional na determinação da capacidade financeira e testamentária: Linhas orientadoras e desenvolvimento de instrumentos de avaliação. [Functional approach in determining financial and testamentary capacity: Guidelines and development of assessment instruments]. FCT-SFRH/BD/47677/2008. Tese de Doutoramento em Psicologia (Psicologia Forense). Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra. [PhD thesis]
- Sousa, L. B., Vilar, M., Firmino, H., & Simões, M. R. (2019). Avaliação neuropsicológica para determinação da capacidade financeira [Neuropsychological assessment to determine financial capacity]. In M. Paulino, & D. Costa (Coord.), Maus-tratos a pessoas idosas [Abuse of elderly people] (pp. 251-273). Pactor.
- Sousa, L.B., Vilar, M., Firmino, H., & Simões, M.R. (2016). Capacidade financeira e testamentária [Financial and testamentary capacity]. In Horácio Firmino, Mário R. Simões, Joaquim Cerejeira (Coords.), Saúde mental das pessoas mais velhas [Mental health of older people] (pp.479-495). Lidel, Edições Técnicas. ISBN: 978-989-752-147-8