Reliability and validation of the Positive Aspects of Caregiving scale among Japanese caregivers of people with dementia

Objectives: This study aimed to validate the Positive Aspects of Caregiving(PAC) scale’s psychometric properties among Japanese informal caregivers of people with dementia.Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used. Data were collected from the Kinki region of Japan during January 2019 and July 2019. Translation and back-translation were performed to acquire the optimal translation of the PAC scale. In total, 194 participants responded to questionnaires that included the Japanese version of the PAC scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale(GDS). Reliability was evaluated by examining the internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Exploratory factor analysis with maximum likelihood estimation and oblique rotation was performed to assess the PAC scale structure.Concurrent validity was determined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.Results: The final version of the Japanese version of the PAC scale contained nine items. Exploratory factor analysis revealed two factors(Living an enriched life and Self-usefulness). The Cronbach’s α coefficient of the total scale was 0.895, the subscales Cronbach’s α coefficient were 0.896 and 0.823. The intraclass correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability was 0.721, indicating acceptable reliability. PAC was significantly correlated to GDS(r =-0.548, P < 0.01).Conclusions: This study found that the Japanese version of the PAC scale was a suitable scale to measure PAC among Japanese caregivers of people with dementia. However, the construct differed from the original model. This scale could help health-care professionals understand the degree of caregivers’ recognition about dementia care and support those with a low degree of positive aspects of caregiving.