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Measuring next of kin’s experience of participation in the care of older people in nursing homes

Westergren, Albert LU ; Behm, Lina LU ; Lindhardt, Tove LU ; Persson, Magnus C LU orcid and Ahlström, Gerd LU orcid (2020) In PLoS ONE 15(1).
Abstract
Background
Lack of conceptual clarity and measurement methods have led to underdeveloped efforts to measure experience of participation in care by next of kin to older people in nursing homes.
Objective
We sought to assess the measurement properties of items aimed at operationalizing participation in care by next of kin, applied in nursing homes.
Methods
A total of 37 items operationalizing participation were administered via a questionnaire to 364 next of kin of older people in nursing homes. Measurement properties were tested with factor analysis and Rasch model analysis.
Results
The response rate to the questionnaire was 81% (n = 260). Missing responses per item varied between <0.5% and 10%. The 37 items... (More)
Background
Lack of conceptual clarity and measurement methods have led to underdeveloped efforts to measure experience of participation in care by next of kin to older people in nursing homes.
Objective
We sought to assess the measurement properties of items aimed at operationalizing participation in care by next of kin, applied in nursing homes.
Methods
A total of 37 items operationalizing participation were administered via a questionnaire to 364 next of kin of older people in nursing homes. Measurement properties were tested with factor analysis and Rasch model analysis.
Results
The response rate to the questionnaire was 81% (n = 260). Missing responses per item varied between <0.5% and 10%. The 37 items were found to be two-dimensional, and 19 were deleted based on conceptual reasoning and Rasch model analysis. One dimension measured communication and trust (nine items, reliability 0.87) while the other measured collaboration in care (nine items, reliability 0.91). Items successfully operationalized a quantitative continuum from lower to higher degrees of participation, and were found to generally fit well with the Rasch model requirements, without disordered thresholds or differential item functioning. Total scores could be calculated based on the bifactor subscale structure (reliability 0.92). Older people (≥ 65 years) reported a higher degree of communication and trust and bifactor total scores than younger people (p < 0.05 in both cases). People with a specific contact person experienced a higher degree of participation in the two subscales and the bifactor total score (p < 0.05 in all three instances).
Conclusion
Psychometric properties revealed satisfactory support for use, in nursing home settings, of the self-reported Next of Kin Participation in Care questionnaire, with a bifactor structure. Additional research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the scales’ abilities to identify changes after intervention. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
PLoS ONE
volume
15
issue
1
article number
e0228379
publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
external identifiers
  • scopus:85078743960
  • pmid:32004352
ISSN
1932-6203
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0228379
project
Implementation of Knowledge-Based Palliative Care for Frail Older Persons in Nursing Homes
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c095dce6-7451-4bd4-b687-cfa0013149c4
date added to LUP
2020-02-06 08:36:35
date last changed
2022-04-18 20:26:17
@article{c095dce6-7451-4bd4-b687-cfa0013149c4,
  abstract     = {{Background<br>
Lack of conceptual clarity and measurement methods have led to underdeveloped efforts to measure experience of participation in care by next of kin to older people in nursing homes.<br>
Objective<br>
We sought to assess the measurement properties of items aimed at operationalizing participation in care by next of kin, applied in nursing homes.<br>
Methods<br>
A total of 37 items operationalizing participation were administered via a questionnaire to 364 next of kin of older people in nursing homes. Measurement properties were tested with factor analysis and Rasch model analysis.<br>
Results<br>
The response rate to the questionnaire was 81% (n = 260). Missing responses per item varied between &lt;0.5% and 10%. The 37 items were found to be two-dimensional, and 19 were deleted based on conceptual reasoning and Rasch model analysis. One dimension measured communication and trust (nine items, reliability 0.87) while the other measured collaboration in care (nine items, reliability 0.91). Items successfully operationalized a quantitative continuum from lower to higher degrees of participation, and were found to generally fit well with the Rasch model requirements, without disordered thresholds or differential item functioning. Total scores could be calculated based on the bifactor subscale structure (reliability 0.92). Older people (≥ 65 years) reported a higher degree of communication and trust and bifactor total scores than younger people (p &lt; 0.05 in both cases). People with a specific contact person experienced a higher degree of participation in the two subscales and the bifactor total score (p &lt; 0.05 in all three instances).<br>
Conclusion<br>
Psychometric properties revealed satisfactory support for use, in nursing home settings, of the self-reported Next of Kin Participation in Care questionnaire, with a bifactor structure. Additional research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the scales’ abilities to identify changes after intervention.}},
  author       = {{Westergren, Albert and Behm, Lina and Lindhardt, Tove and Persson, Magnus C and Ahlström, Gerd}},
  issn         = {{1932-6203}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
  series       = {{PLoS ONE}},
  title        = {{Measuring next of kin’s experience of participation in the care of older people in nursing homes}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228379}},
  doi          = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0228379}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}