An Exploratory Factor Analysis and Construct Validity of the Resident Choice Assessment Scale With Paid Carers of Adults With Intellectual Disabilities and Challenging Behavior in Community Settings

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The Resident Choice Assessment Scale (RCAS) is used to assess choice availability for adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). The aim of the study was to explore the factor structure, construct validity, and internal consistency of the measure in community settings to further validate this tool. Method: 108 paid carers of adults with ID living in supported accommodation and residential care facilities in urban, rural, and semirural areas in England completed the RCAS. Exploratory factor analyses were performed and the construct validity and internal consistency of the emerging factors were assessed. Results: Principal axis factoring with oblique rotations suggested a scale with two factors (Everyday Choices and Participation in Household Activities) which explained 45% of the variance; the factors showed favorable construct validity as they identified significant differences between those living in residential care homes compared with supported living; the factors also differentiated between people with different levels of intellectual impairment with less choice and participation in domestic activities for those with more severe ID compared to their counterparts with moderate and mild impairment. Five items did not load onto any factor, suggesting that these could be dropped from the scale when administered in community settings, thus resulting in an 18-item measure (RCAS-18). Conclusion: The RCAS-18 may provide a useful measure to assess choice availability for people with ID supported by paid carers in the community. The revised measure may be more suitable in capturing choice than the original version for use in community samples.

KEYWORDS:

• Challenging behavior
• choice
• community
• intellectual disabilities