ABSTRACT
Objective:To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the continuity assessment record and evaluation(CARE)among the elderly in nursing institutions.Methods:A total of 269 elders in nursing institutions were face-to-face interviewed.Information was collected with the Chinese version of CARE, the mini mental state examination(MMSE), the geriatric depression scale(GDS), the visual analogue pain score(VAS), the barthel index(BI), the lawton instrumental activities of daily living scale(IADL), and the euroqol five dimensions questionnaire(EQ-5D). A week later, 30 of the elderly were re-evaluated with the Chinese version of CARE.Data were analyzed for reliability and validity.Results:For both the total score and the score for each dimension of CARE, the interrater reliability and test-retest reliability expressed by the intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC)ranged from 0.945 to 1.000 and 0.842 to 1.000, respectively; the internal consistency expressed by Cronbach's α ranged from 0.717 to 1.000, all reaching good levels of reliability.The criterion-related validity of the relevant dimensions of CARE showed high correlations with MMSE, GDS, VAS, BI, IADL and EQ-5D(0.918, 0.802, 0.998, 0.931, 0.924 and 0.917, respectively)(all P=0.000). Conclusions:The Chinese version of CARE has good reliability and validity among elders in nursing institutions, and can be used as a comprehensive assessment tool for the elderly in nursing institutions in China.