AI Insight
Researchers developed and validated a 19-item scale to assess Post-Intensive Care Syndrome-Family (PICS-F) in Chinese family caregivers of ICU patients. The scale measures three dimensions: psychological trauma and distress, social and family functioning impairment, and deteriorating physical health. Testing with 447 family members demonstrated strong reliability and validity, with the three-factor structure accounting for 57% of variance and high internal consistency.
Why it matters
This tool addresses a significant gap in assessing the mental and physical toll on family members of critically ill patients in Chinese healthcare settings. It enables early identification of at-risk caregivers who may need psychological support, potentially improving outcomes for both patients and their families during and after intensive care experiences.
Understand the Science
BackgroundPost-Intensive Care Syndrome-Family (PICS-F) is a condition that often develops in family caregivers of ICU patients and severely impacts their quality of life. Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive assessment tools suitable for the Chinese cultural context.ObjectiveTo develop and validate a culturally appropriate scale for assessing PICS-F in family members of ICU patients within the Chinese context.MethodsThis study adopted an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. The scale was developed based on a preliminary qualitative study and guided by the Theory of being devastated by the critical illness journey in the family. An initial pool of 42 items was generated. Content validity was evaluated through expert consultation. A pilot survey was conducted. A cross-sectional survey was then performed with 447 family members. Reliability and validity were assessed using item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and Cronbach’s α coefficient.ResultsContent validity indices were adequate (item-level content validity index (I-CVI): 0.80–1.00; scale-level content validity index/average (S-CVI/Ave) = 0.98). The final PICS-F Assessment Scale contains 19 items across three dimensions: Psychological Trauma and Distress (8 items), Social and Family Functioning Impairment (8 items), and Deteriorating Physical Health (3 items). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) supported the three-factor structure, accounting for 56.98% of the total variance. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) indicated adequate model fit [χ2/d f = 2.268, root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.075, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.934, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.924, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) = 0.064]. The scale demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.918 for the total scale; subscales: 0.919, 0.903, 0.851).Implications for clinical practiceThe scale provides a practical tool for early screening and assessment of PICS-F in clinical settings, facilitating timely and targeted support for at-risk family caregivers.ConclusionThe PICS-F Assessment Scale demonstrated promising preliminary psychometric properties for holistically assessing the impact of critical illness on family members, demonstrating good internal consistency reliability, content validity, and construct validity. Further validation with larger samples and criterion-related measures is needed.
Source: Development and preliminary validation of the post-intensive care syndrome-family assessment scale