Components of the difficulties, satisfactions and management strategies of carers of older people: a principal component analysis of CADI-CASI-CAMI.

OBJECTIVES: To perform a psychometric evaluation of the Carers Assessment of Difficulties Index, Carers Assessment of Satisfactions Index and the Carers Assessment of Managing Index (CADI-CASI-CAMI).

METHOD: Data was collected in three European countries from informal carers of older people (n = 295) via a common protocol. Carers completed: (a) a questionnaire containing items on demographics and caregiving characteristics and (b) the CADI-CASI-CAMI indices. Principal component analysis of the CADI-CASI-CAMI indices was followed by internal consistency analysis of emergent components. Scales derived by summing items loading on the components were analysed for their association with the demographic and caregiving characteristic variables.

RESULTS: CADI produced six internally consistent and interpretable components, CASI five and CAMI seven. Subscales derived from the components were significantly associated with the demographic and caregiving characteristic variables, providing initial support for construct validity.

CONCLUSION: The CADI-CASI-CAMI indices are recommended as an assessment tool for in-depth work with family carers of older people and as a research tool for large-scale studies of family care.