The care dependency scale for measuring basic human needs: an international comparison

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Cross-cultural Healthcare Research
• Patient Assessment Tools

Background:

• The care dependency scale is a framework for assessing nursing care needs in institutionalized patients.
• It was developed using Henderson's components of nursing care to define care dependency.
• This scale aims to standardize the assessment of patient needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the utility and psychometric properties of the care dependency scale in four different countries.
• To validate the scale's applicability in diverse cultural contexts.
• To assess the reliability and validity of the care dependency scale for international use.

Main Methods:

• A cross-cultural survey design was employed.
• Patients from Japan, The Netherlands, Poland, and Turkey participated.
• The scale was translated and psychometric properties (reliability, validity) were analyzed using Cronbach's alpha, Guttman's lambda-2, inter-item correlation, and principal components analysis.

Main Results:

• The care dependency scale demonstrated high internal consistency across all participating countries.
• Principal component analysis confirmed a consistent one-factor model, as reported in previous studies.
• The scale proved reliable and valid for use in international comparative research.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms Henderson's theory that fundamental human needs are universal in patient-nurse relationships, irrespective of cultural background or care setting.
• The care dependency scale exhibits robust psychometric characteristics, supporting its use in cross-cultural comparative research.
• The findings underscore the scale's value for international healthcare studies and patient needs assessment.