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P4–172: Concurrent validity of the “Carers' Needs Assessment Schedule for Dementia”
Author(s) -
Wancata Johannes,
Kaiser Gerda,
Krautgartner Monika,
Weiss Maria,
Marquart Barbara,
Unger Anne
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2006.05.1911
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , dementia , concurrent validity , medicine , psychiatry , clinical psychology , anxiety , general health questionnaire , depression (economics) , schedule , nursing homes , psychology , gerontology , psychometrics , nursing , disease , computer science , internal consistency , operating system , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Background: Caregivers of dementia patients often suffer from numerous burdens. Several studies have shown that various interventions to caregivers are effective to reduce their burden and improve the patients’ outcome. A recently developed research instrument for assessing the needs of caregivers (“Carers’ Needs Assessment Schedule for Dementia” CNA-D) has been shown to have satisfactory inter-rater and retest reliability as well as content validity. Objective(s): The aim of the present study was to investigate concurrent validity of the CNA-D. Methods: Forty five relatives of dementia patients were enrolled for this study. To evaluate if plausible associations (i.e. indicators for concurrent validity) exist, two summary scores of the CNA-D were used: the number of moderate or serious problems among the carers and the number of interventions needed. Further the “Camberwell Assessment of Needs for the Elderly” (CANE) and the “General Health Questionnaire” (GHQ-12) were used. Results: The numbers of carers’ problems (CNA-D) were positively associated with the number of symptoms indicating anxiety disorders or depression (GHQ; r 0.625, p 0.000), the living situation of the patient (private household vs. nursing home; r 0.642, p 0.000) and the amount of time spent with the patient (r 0.330, p 0.040). Negative correlations were found with the extent of support the patient received from the private social network (r 0.430, p 0.005) or from professional services (r -0.384, p 0.012). Similar results were yielded for the number of interventions needed (CNAD). Conclusions: Overall, these results indicate that the concurrent validity of the CNA-D is satisfactory.