The progression of behavior in dementia: an in-office guide for clinicians

Anxiety and stigma in dementia: a threat to aging in place

The number of Americans with dementia is expected to increase as the population ages. Developing dementia is feared by many older adults and may result in anxiety in persons with dementia. This article focuses on anxiety, one of the least understood symptoms associated with dementia in community-dwelling older adults, the stigma of dementia, and the relationship between anxiety and stigma in dementia. When undetected and untreated, anxiety and associated stigma can adversely affect quality of life and the ability to age in place.

Preliminary reliability and validity testing of a self-efficacy questionnaire for Chinese family caregivers

OBJECTIVES

To develop and test preliminary reliability and validity of a Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Chinese Family Caregivers (SEQCFC).

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of 196 family caregivers (CGs) of people with dementia (CGs) was conducted to determine the factor structure of a SEQCFC of people with dementia. Following factor analyses, preliminary testing was performed, including internal consistency, 4-week test-retest reliability, and construct and convergent validity.

RESULTS

Factor analyses with direct oblimin rotation were performed. Eight items were removed and five subscales (self-efficacy for gathering information about treatment, symptoms and health care; obtaining support; responding to behaviour disturbances; managing household, personal and medical care; and managing distress associated with caregiving) were identified. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the whole scale and for each subscale were all over 0.80. The 4-week test-retest reliabilities for the whole scale and for each subscale ranged from 0.64 to 0.85. The convergent validity was acceptable.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence for the preliminary testing of the SEQCFC was encouraging. A future follow-up study using confirmatory factor analysis with a new sample from different recruitment centres in Shanghai will be conducted. Future psychometric property testings of the questionnaire will be required for CGs from other regions of mainland China.