The COPE index--a first stage assessment of negative impact, positive value and quality of support of caregiving in informal carers of older people

Abstract

Data was collected in five countries from informal carers of older people (n = 577) via a common protocol. Carers completed: (1) a 17-item version of the Carers of Older People in Europe (COPE) Index, an assessment of carers' perceptions of their role : (2) a questionnaire on demographic and caregiving circumstances : and (3) three instruments included for the criterion validation of the COPE Index (the General Health Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF). Principal Component Analysis of the COPE Index was followed by internal consistency analysis of emergent components. Scales derived by summing items loading on the components were analyzed for their association with the criterion measures. Two components, negative impact and positive value, emerged consistently across countries. A third component, quality of support was less consistent across countries. Scales derived from the negative impact and positive value components were internally consistent and significantly associated with the criterion validity measures. These two scales and four items drawn from the quality of support component were retained in the final COPE Index. While further testing is required, the COPE Index has current utility in increasing understanding of the role perceptions of carers of older people.

Support at Home: Interventions to Enhance Life in Dementia (SHIELD) – evidence, development and evaluation of complex interventions

“…l Positive aspects of caring These were measured using the four-item positive aspects subscale from the Carers of Older People in Europe (COPE) index. 157 Responses are recorded from the categories never, sometimes, often and always (or not applicable). l Personal growth The 3-item version Personal Growth Index was used.…”

1715 Patient reported outcome measures for cancer caregivers: A systematic review

“…Measures developed in other contexts, e.g. family function in a paediatric setting [39], for economic evaluation [40], domain-specific measures [41] and multidimensional measures which have not been subject to psychometric evaluation in cancer caregivers in the English language [6,42,43] may include concepts and items that are pertinent but which would need to be evaluated in appropriate studies.…”

Psychometric validation of the Carers of Older People in Europe Index among family caregivers of older persons with dementia

“…Criterion validity tests among family caregivers of older people 21,23 and caregivers of older persons with dementia 31 have shown that overall the subscales correlate satisfactorily with the chosen criteria. The test score reliability in terms of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) has previously been examined in populations of family caregivers of older people 23 , caregivers of older homecare clients (not including clients with cancer, dementia or psychiatric disorders) 25 and caregivers of disabled people.…”

“…20 Nevertheless, the instrument was designed to be a first-stage assessment tool, and more detailed assessments and dialogs with caregivers are warranted to adapt interventions to individual needs. 23 The psychometric properties of the original 2003 COPE Index 21 were sub-optimal; hence, a revised version was adopted in 2006 in a six-country European survey of family caregivers of older people (EUROFAMCARE study). 23 An exploratory factor analysis revealed that the following three components underpinned the 15 items: negative impact of caregiving, positive values of caregiving and quality of support.…”

“…21,22 The COPE Index is based on a theoretical model reflecting both the positive and negative aspects of caregiving, including the family caregivers' subjective perceptions of the caregiver role, the quality of the relationship with the care recipient and support from the family, social network or health and care services. [21][22][23] The COPE Index has been used in several studies, including studies assessing family caregivers of older care recipients living at home, [24][25][26][27][28] caregivers of disabled people in different age groups, 29 caregivers of persons with bipolar disorders, 30 and dementia caregivers. 20,31,32 Several studies have applied the subscales as outcome measures to evaluate caregiver support interventions 27,30 or assess changes in the caregivers' situations over time.…”