The QUALCARE Scale: testing of a measurement instrument for clinical practice.

This article continues the discussion of the theoretical and methodological issues associated with the use of measurement instruments in nursing such as the QUALCARE Scale. The QUALCARE Scale is an observational rating scale designed to quantify the quality of family caregiving to home-dwelling elders in six areas: physical, medical management, psychosocial, environmental, human rights and financial. This manuscript continues the discussion by reporting the psychometric properties of the scale. The QUALCARE Scale was tested in a descriptive correlational study with 249 caregiver-elder dyads. The results supported evidence of interrater reliability, internal consistency, and criterion and construct validity. Three issues in the use of measurement instruments in clinical practice are discussed: (i) quantification versus qualification, (ii) clinical relevance and (iii) the establishment of rating standards.