Abstract

Background: The number of people with dementia and male caregivers has increased in Japan. We developed a coping scale about nursing care problems encountered by male caregivers of people with dementia living at home. This study tests its validity and reliability.
Methods: A self-administered written questionnaire was completed by male caregivers recruited from across Japan. Reliability of factors was tested using Cronbach’s alpha. Validity was assessed using concurrent validity and criterion-related validity (with three self-administered scales, the Japanese version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, the Depressive Symptoms and Self-Esteem Emotional Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale). Values were compared between groups adopting aggressive or passive methods of coping, using principal component analysis (the major factor method and Promax rotation).
Results: The statistical analysis produced a scale of 15 items and five factors. The cumulative contribution ratio was 57.18%. The five factors were labeled “Solve the problem type”, “Avoidance and emotional type”, “Transformation cognitive type”, “Careful supervision and waiting type”, and “Assistance request type”. The reliability coefficient for the coping scale, measured using Cronbach’s alpha, was 0.76, and 0.65 or more for each individual factor. There were significant correlations (P < 0.04) between the new coping scale and total scores on the Japanese version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, Depressive Symptoms and Self-Esteem Emotional Scale, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The comparison between the two groups (aggressive and passive coping methods) showed that they had significantly different levels of depressive symptoms and self-esteem.
Conclusion: The Nursing Care Problems Coping Scale for Male Caregivers for People with Dementia Living at Home was found be reliable and valid for measuring whether male caregivers are able to cope with the demands of a person with dementia living at home.