The caregiver contribution to self-care of stroke inventory (CC-SCSI): evaluation of psychometric characteristics

Abstract Background The caregiver contribution to self-care plays an important role in improving the health outcomes of chronic patients, which needs urgent attention. However, it has been hindered by the lack of a tailored instrument that assesses the caregiver contribution to self-care of stroke. Objectives To test the psychometric characteristics of the caregiver contribution to self-care of stroke Inventory (CC-SCSI) in health care practice. Methods Participants were recruited in Henan Province from March 2021 to October 2022, utilizing a multicenter stratified sampling approach. A 23-item self-report CC-SCSI with 3 separate scales measuring caregiver contribution to self-care maintenance of stroke, caregiver contribution to self-care monitoring of stroke and caregiver contribution to self-care management of stroke was tested for validity through discriminant validity, confirmatory factor analysis, concurrent validity and convergent validity. The reliability was tested by Cronbach’s α coefficient and test-retest reliability. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. A STROBE checklist was used. Results The three scales of the CC-SCSI exhibited good discriminant validity. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor structure of the Caregiver Contribution to Stroke Self-Care Maintenance and Management scales and the one-factor structure of the Caregiver Contribution to Stroke Self-Care Monitoring scale. The moderate correlation between the CC-SCSI and the Self-Care of Stroke Inventory indicated acceptable concurrent validity. The moderate correlation between the CC-SCSI and the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory indicated acceptable convergent validity. Cronbach’s αs for the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care Maintenance, Self-Care Monitoring, and Self-Care Management scales ranged from 0.876 to 0.974. Test-retest reliability showed average ICC values ranging from 0.828 to 0.903 (P < 0.001). Conclusions The 23-item CC-SCSI presents good psychometric properties and could be used to explore the caregiver contribution to stroke self-care in health care practice and research.