Validation of the Psychological Empowerment Scale and Client-Centered Care Questionnaire in budget holders with disabilities

Eva Pattyn; Paul Gemmel; Ruben Willems; Susan Lagaert; Jeroen Trybou

doi:10.1080/09638288.2024.2343417

Validation of the Psychological Empowerment Scale and Client-Centered Care Questionnaire in budget holders with disabilities

Disabil Rehabil. 2024 Apr 21:1-13. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2343417. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Eva Pattyn¹, Paul Gemmel², Ruben Willems¹, Susan Lagaert³, Jeroen Trybou¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
² Department of Marketing, Innovation and Organization - Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
³ Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

PMID: 38644617
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2343417

Abstract

Purpose: Several high-income countries install Cash-for-Care Schemes (CCSs) by granting budgets to care users. However, little quantitative evidence exist on empowerment and client-centered care levels, due to a lack of validated scales. This research aimed to validate the Psychological Empowerment Scale (PE scale) and Client-Centered Care Questionnaire (CCCQ) in budget holders with disabilities.

Methods: A survey was developed based on a literature review and experts and budget holders input. Principal Axis Factoring with direct oblimin rotation, Cronbach's Alpha, and hypotheses testing with socio-demographic and budget characteristics as independent variables, and PE scale and CCCQ as dependent, were undertaken to assess both scales' internal consistency and validity.

Results: A convenience sample of 224 Flemish (proxy) budget holders completed the survey. Our analysis showed a two-factor solution for both scales; for the PE scale consisting of "meaning" and "competence," and "self-determination" and "impact," for CCCQ consisting of items 1-7 (conduct by caregiver) and items 8-15 (autonomy). Cronbach's Alpha of both scales was 0.94. The majority of our hypotheses were confirmed.

Conclusions: The findings show that both scales are valid and internally consistent, meaning that they can be further tested in a respondent sample of people with disabilities and in other care contexts.

Keywords: Cash-for-care scheme; Client-Centered Care Questionnaire; client-centeredness; empowerment; psychological empowerment scale.

Plain language summary

In light of the current trends in the (health)care sector to stimulate empowerment and client-centered care in care users, the monitoring of this experience is important.The Psychological Empowerment Scale (PE scale) measures empowerment by means of four cognitions (meaning, competence, impact, and self-determination), while the Client-Centered Care Questionnaire (CCCQ) measures the level of client-centered care.The PE scale and CCCQ are valid and internally consistent in our sample of (proxy) budget holders with disabilities.