Development and validation of the Karitane Family Outcomes Tool

The purpose of this study was to develop the Karitane Family Outcomes Tool (KFOT), a brief parent-report questionnaire to measure outcomes of Australian Early Parenting Centres (EPCs) and similar programmes worldwide.

The study was conducted in two stages. In Stage One, an initial item pool (80 items) was developed via focus group discussions with clinical experts and parents. In Stage Two, three samples of parents were recruited (online community sample: n = 849, clinical sample 1: n = 141, clinical sample 2: n = 109). The online community sample completed the 80-items and then non-normally distributed items were culled, leaving a total item pool of 57 items. The online community sample was then split into two subsamples (subsample 1: n = 650, subsample 2: n = 199). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was then conducted on online community subsample 1 and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on online community subsample 2 and clinical sample 1. Using clinical sample 2, concurrent validity was assessed by examining correlations between KFOT factor scores with scores on the Parenting Stress Index. Finally, discriminant validity was assessed by examining the KFOTs sensitivity to change following EPC intervention and by comparing KFOT scores of clinical and community samples.

EFA revealed 13 items loading onto three factors: "Parental feelings," "Reading cues & meeting the child's needs" and "Perceptions of child behaviour." The factor structure was confirmed using CFA in both the community and clinical samples. Significant differences on all three KFOT factors and on the total score were found between the clinical and community samples, suggesting that the scale is able to discriminate between clinical and nonclinical groups. Significant differences were also found between pre- and postintervention scores, and between pre- and follow-up scores, on all three KFOT factors, providing further indication of discriminant validity. The KFOT factors correlated in the expected direction with scores on the Parenting Stress Index, showing concurrent validity.

Results indicate that the KFOT is a brief, valid and reliable parent-report scale that can be used by nurses to evaluate outcomes of EPC and similar parenting programmes.