Further testing of a family nursing instrument (FAFHES).
BACKGROUND
Cardiac illness in one family member affects the well-being and health of the whole family. When a family member falls ill, life may change for the whole family in many ways. Family members expect nursing staff to provide more support when their family situation changes.


OBJECTIVE
To describe further development and testing of a family nursing instrument for assessing the association between social support for the family of an adult cardiac patient and family functioning and perceived family health.


METHODS
The study was conducted in two university hospitals and in two central hospitals in Finland.


METHODS
Questionnaires were given to family members of heart patients. Patients themselves defined who their closest adult relative was. Data were collected from family members of 509 heart patients.


RESULTS
Good internal reliability in this further testing of a new instrument was demonstrated. Principal component analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation was performed in each of the three total scales: family functioning, family health and social support. PCA supported the previously proposed theoretical framework. A final scale consisted of 62 items. All the total scales and subscales had acceptable validity and reliability, alpha coefficients ranged from .76 to .98.


CONCLUSIONS
The Family Functioning, Health and Social Support (FAFHES) provides a reliable and valid instrument when the investigator wishes to measure social support associated with family functioning and the health of families of heart patients.
Astedt-Kurki
Päivi
P
Department of Nursing Science, University of Tampere, Tampere University Hospital, Research Unit, Finland.
Tarkka
Marja-Terttu
MT
Rikala
Marjo-Riitta
MR
Lehti
Kristiina
K
Paavilainen
Eija
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005192:Family Health; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult