Development and psychometric testing of the care dependence perception questionnaire

Area of Science:

• Oncology Nursing
• Psychometrics
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Care dependence significantly impacts cancer patients' quality of life.
• Existing measures may not fully capture the nuanced patient experience of care dependence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and psychometrically validate a questionnaire assessing cancer patients' perception of care dependence.
• To create a tool for nurses to understand and address patient experiences related to care dependence.

Main Methods:

• A 15-item questionnaire was developed using meta-synthesis and qualitative data.
• Face, content, and pilot testing were conducted.
• Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and test-retest reliability were used for psychometric evaluation in 208 cancer patients.

Main Results:

• The Care DEeP Questionnaire demonstrated good psychometric properties, including internal consistency and stability.
• EFA identified a two-factor model representing positive and negative perceptions of care dependence.
• Scale-Content Validity Index was 0.92.

Conclusions:

• The Care DEeP Questionnaire is a validated instrument for assessing patient perceptions of care dependence in oncology.
• It enables cancer nurses to identify specific patient needs and tailor care interventions.
• The questionnaire can enhance personalized care and improve patient subjective well-being.