A novel scale for assessing caregiving competence in family caregivers of persons with dementia

Abstract

The aging of family caregivers and the challenges of long-distance caregiving attributed to the increase in the number of elderly individuals living alone have raised concerns about dementia caregiving in Japan. Additionally, with the shifts in family dynamics due to declining birth rates and an extended average lifespan, adapting support strategies for family caregivers is necessary. Thus, it is necessary to measure the caregiving competence of family caregivers early and effectively. However, a comprehensive caregiving competence scale tailored to dementia, including aspects such as caregiving burden, affirmation, and coping, is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a Caregiving Competence Scale for Dementia (CCSD) for primary family caregivers caring for individuals with dementia. This study focused on primary family caregivers caring for individuals with cognitive impairment and various degrees of dementia. The initial version of the CCSD was developed, and a questionnaire survey was conducted to validate its structural validity and reliability. A total of 150 participants were included in the analysis. The exploratory factor analysis identified five factors with 27 items: Factor 1: “Positive Emotions and Awareness,” Factor 2: “Presence or Absence of Consultation Partners and Family Support,” Factor 3: “Caregiving Burden and Coping Skills,” Factor 4: “Dementia Literacy,” and Factor 5: “Engagement and Emotional Control.” The confirmatory factor analysis revealed a good model fit (comparative fit index = 0.905 and root mean square error of approximation = 0.072). The overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the scale was 0.892. The CCSD, comprising 27 items covering five factors, has been successfully developed as a measurement scale. Measuring caregiving competence contributes to developing targeted support strategies for primary family caregivers and facilitating appropriate interventions.