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Factor analysis and internal consistency evaluation of the FAMCARE Scale for use in the long-term care setting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 March 2010

Keri L. Rodriguez ,
Nichole K. Bayliss ,
Emily Jaffe ,
Susan Zickmund  and
Mary Ann Sevick
Keri L. Rodriguez*
Affiliation:
Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Nichole K. Bayliss
Affiliation:
Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Sociology Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Emily Jaffe
Affiliation:
Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Susan Zickmund
Affiliation:
Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mary Ann Sevick
Affiliation:
Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsbsburg, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Keri L. Rodriguez, Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, 7180 Highland Drive, Bldg. 2, Room. 4083E (151C-H), Pittsburgh, PA 15206. E-mail: keri.rodriguez@va.gov
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Abstract

Objective:

The FAMCARE Scale was originally designed to measure family satisfaction with advanced cancer care. The current study evaluated the instrument's psychometric qualities when used in the long-term care (LTC) setting.

Method:

In a prospective cohort study in 2004, the 20-item instrument was administered via telephone to family members of 51 patients receiving LTC in Veterans Affairs facilities. Satisfaction scores on a 5-point Likert scale were used for factor analysis and internal consistency evaluation.

Results:

Although 16 patients were in geriatric palliative care and 35 were in nursing home care, scores of their family members did not vary based on care unit. The total satisfaction score was high, with a mean (SD) of 44.7 (11.9) and a Cronbach alpha of 0.94. Inter-item correlations were low for care availability items (range, 0.01–0.59). Two items—availability of a hospital bed and availability of nurses to the family—had low eigenvalues (0.26 and 0.18, respectively) and weak correlations with the total score (0.23 and 0.16, respectively).

Significance of results:

In the LTC setting, FAMCARE appears to have good internal consistency, but it may be preferable to exclude the two items with weak correlations and to use a 10-point visual analog scale.

Keywords

Long-term careNursing homesConsumer satisfactionFamilyPsychometrics
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , June 2010 , pp. 169 - 176
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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