title: Factor structure and construct validity of the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit for Carers (ASCOT-Carer).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ASCOT-Carer is a self-report instrument designed to measure social care-related quality of life (SCRQoL). This article presents the psychometric testing and validation of the ASCOT-Carer four response-level interview (INT4) in a sample of unpaid carers of adults who receive publicly funded social care services in England.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unpaid carers were identified through a survey of users of publicly funded social care services in England. Three hundred and eighty-seven carers completed a face-to-face or telephone interview. Data on variables hypothesised to be related to SCRQoL (e.g. characteristics of the carer, cared-for person and care situation) and measures of carer experience, strain, health-related quality of life and overall QoL were collected. Relationships between these variables and overall SCRQoL score were evaluated through correlation, ANOVA and regression analysis to test the construct validity of the scale. Internal reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and feasibility by the number of missing responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The construct validity was supported by statistically significant relationships between SCRQoL and scores on instruments of related constructs, as well as with characteristics of the carer and care recipient in univariate and multivariate analyses. A Cronbach's alpha of 0.87 (seven items) indicates that the internal reliability of the instrument is satisfactory and a low number of missing responses (<1 %) indicates a high level of acceptance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide evidence to support the construct validity, factor structure, internal reliability and feasibility of the ASCOT-Carer INT4 as an instrument for measuring social care-related quality of life of unpaid carers who care for adults with a variety of long-term conditions, disability or problems related to old age.
authors.affiliation: Quality and Outcomes of Person-Centred Care Policy Research Unit (QORU), PSSRU Kent, Cornwallis Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NF, UK. S.E.Rand@kent.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Stacey E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Rand
authors.affiliation: Quality and Outcomes of Person-Centred Care Policy Research Unit (QORU), PSSRU Kent, Cornwallis Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NF, UK.|Quality and Outcomes of Person-Centred Care Policy Research Unit (QORU), PSSRU LSE, Cowdray House, London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE, UK.
authors.forename: Juliette N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Malley
authors.affiliation: Quality and Outcomes of Person-Centred Care Policy Research Unit (QORU), PSSRU Kent, Cornwallis Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NF, UK.
authors.forename: Ann P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Netten
authors.affiliation: Quality and Outcomes of Person-Centred Care Policy Research Unit (QORU), PSSRU Kent, Cornwallis Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NF, UK.
authors.forename: Julien E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Forder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D012947:Social Work; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ASCOT; Caregiving; Construct validity; Informal care; Outcomes; Quality of life; Social care