title: Use of the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale in Palliative Care: A Rasch Evaluation Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies have shown that family carers who feel more prepared for the caregiver role tend to have more favorable experiences. Valid and reliable methods are needed to identify family carers who may be less prepared for the role of supporting a person who needs palliative care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the measurement properties of the original English version and a Swedish version of the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale (PCS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample (n = 674) was taken from four different intervention studies from Australia and Sweden, all focused on improving family carers' feelings of preparedness. Family carers of patients receiving palliative home care were selected, and baseline data were used. The measurement properties of the PCS were evaluated using the Rasch model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the English and Swedish versions of the PCS exhibit sound measurement properties according to the Rasch model. The items in the PCS captured different levels of preparedness. The response categories were appropriate and corresponded to the level of preparedness. No significant differential item functioning for age and sex was detected. Three items demonstrated differential item functioning by language but did not impact interpretation of scores. Reliability was high (>0.90) according to the Person Separation Index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PCS is valid for use among family carers in palliative care. Data provide support for its use across age and gender groups as well as across the two language versions.
authors.affiliation: Palliative Research Centre and Department of Health Care Sciences, Ersta Sköndal University College, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: anette.henriksson@esh.se.
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Henriksson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Palliative Care, St. Vincent's Hospital and Collaborative Centre of The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.affiliation: Palliative Research Centre and Department of Health Care Sciences, Ersta Sköndal University College, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Joakim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Öhlen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Palliative Care, St. Vincent's Hospital and Collaborative Centre of The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Palliative Research Centre and Department of Health Care Sciences, Ersta Sköndal University College, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.affiliation: Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carlander
authors.affiliation: The PRO-CARE Group, School of Health and Society, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hagell
authors.affiliation: Center for Collaborative Palliative Care, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kristofer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Årestedt
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D059031:Anticipation, Psychological; D001315:Australia; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden; D014175:Translating; D014177:Translations
keywords: Family carer; Rasch; palliative care; preparedness; psychometrics; validation studies