Psychosocial functioning after stroke: Psychometric properties of the patient competency rating scale

Abstract

Objective: Research on long-term effects of stroke therapy and rehabilitation requires further standardized instruments for the assessment of patients’ recovery regarding psychosocial functioning. To the authors’ knowledge, it is the first study which investigates the psychometric properties of the Patient Competency Rating Scale (PCRS) in stroke.

Design and methods: The study used a longitudinal design. One hundred and fifty-one stroke patients and their caregiving partners filled out the PCRS at two measuring times. Some other stroke outcome measures were used to assess the criterion validity of the separate PCRS-sub-scales. Examination of the factor structure employed factor analysis techniques. The reliability was evaluated with Cronbach's alpha.

Results: Modifications of the initial hypothesized four-factor structure were necessary. The modified sub-scales showed good reliability and criterion validity for stroke survivors’ assessment as well as for caregivers’ assessment of the patients’ functioning.

Conclusions: The modified PCRS can be recommended for use in longitudinal studies to evaluate long-term effects of therapy and rehabilitative measures on stroke survivors’ recovery.

• Stroke
• outcome measures
• psychosocial aspects
• longitudinal studies
• exploratory factor analysis