Evaluation of the psychometric properties of a modified Chinese version of the Caregiver Task Inventory – refinement and psychometric testing of the Chinese Caregiver Task Inventory: a confirmatory factor analysis

AIM: To test the reliability and validity of the modified Chinese version of the Caregiver Task Inventory. BACKGROUND: The original Caregiver Task Inventory was developed in 1983 by Clark and Rakowski in the USA. It was used to measure Chinese family caregivers' needs in Hong Kong. Its failure to evaluate the psychometric properties of the instrument measuring the needs of family caregivers across cultures limited its scientific rigor. DESIGN: A quantitative study method was used to test the psychometrics of the modified Chinese version of the Caregiver Task Inventory. METHODS: A convenience sample of 114 family caregivers completed the Caregiver Task Inventory in 2005 to test different aspects of the validity and reliability and confirm items of the short form of the Chinese Caregiver Task Inventory-25. RESULTS: The content validity of the 25 items of the Chinese Caregiver Task Inventory was validated by six experts, who assessed the correlation between caregiving tasks and the five refined sub-scales. The construct validity was determined by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The χ(2) goodness-of-fit, χ(2): df ratio, goodness-of-fit index (GFI), adjusted GFI and root mean square residual were obtained and used to assess the fit of the model. The internal consistency and stability of the Chinese Caregiver Task Inventory-25 were determined by Cronbach's method (0·93) and the internal reliability (item total correlation) for the five refined sub-scales ranged from 0·67-0·86. CFA and internal consistency analysis showed a strong degree of fit between the conceptualisation and the development of the measurement. CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese Caregiver Task Inventory-25 is a relevant and culturally appropriate research instrument to measure the needs of Chinese family caregivers. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study reveals that stroke nurses should assess the impacts of caregiving tasks on caregivers' physical and psychological stress levels prior to planning relevant interventions.