Inter-rater reliability of the Developmental Behaviour Checklist for Adults in community accommodation settings

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Developmental Disabilities

Background:

• The Developmental Behaviour Checklist for Adults (DBC-A) screens emotional and behavioral disturbances in individuals with intellectual disability (ID).
• Previous studies established test-retest and inter-rater reliability with family members and paid carers in community settings.
• This study specifically examines inter-rater reliability among paid carers in residential settings for adults with ID.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the inter-rater reliability of the DBC-A when completed by pairs of paid carers.
• To evaluate the reliability of the DBC-A in small community-based accommodation settings for adults with ID.

Main Methods:

• 38 pairs of paid carers participated in the study.
• Carers were employed by non-government agencies providing residential services in small group homes.
• Participants included 38 adults with intellectual disability living in the community.

Main Results:

• An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.69 was found between pairs of paid carers.
• This ICC value indicates satisfactory inter-rater reliability for the DBC-A in this context.
• Reliability was also satisfactory across the six DBC-A sub-scales.

Conclusions:

• The DBC-A demonstrates reliable completion by pairs of paid carers for adults with ID in group homes.
• The inter-rater reliability found (ICC=0.69) is comparable to previous studies with family members.
• The DBC-A is a psychometrically sound tool for assessing psychopathology in adults with ID across lifespan settings.