Abstract
Purpose : The purpose of this study is to develop "The Needs Assessment Scale of Discharge Planning for Dementia (NASDPD)" and then to investigate the reliability and validity of the scale, which is used as an assessment tool for discharge planning in people with dementia. Methods : Firstly an interview was conducted with four family members of people with dementia, four experts of A city community comprehensive care center and three researchers as a preliminary research for the tentative version of scale. Second, a survey including the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE) was given to 200 professionals in hospitals, 492 professionals in community comprehensive care centers, and 90 public health nurses in A city. Results : "NASDPD" was developed to four factors and 22 items by factor analysis: six items of activities and functions of daily living; six items of medical and social service; five items of community network; and five items of family functioning and perspectives. The Cronbach a coefficient of the scale was 0.897. A significant positive correlation was found between the total score of the scale and the CANE (r=0.701, p<0.001). Conclusion : "NASDPD" demonstrates considerably high reliability and validity as an assessment tool for home care needs in people with dementia. In the future, it is necessary to promote an interdisciplinary discharge care system with "NASDPD" based on their community, for people with dementia.
