Table 2.
Analysis of qPAD Knowledge Test (N = 85)
| Item no. | Knowledge Test items | Discrimination (pt-biserial r) | Difficulty (mean) | Factor loading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Factor 1–Anticipating Needs (coefficient α = .75) | ||||
| 3 | The best way to prevent weight loss for persons with dementia is to keep them on their special medical diets, e.g. low fat, cardiac, renal. | .53 | .43 | .668 |
| 9 | Persons with dementia should take showers just as other persons do. | .52 | .52 | .550 |
| 11 | Persons with advanced dementia can reposition themselves easily in their chairs. | .75 | .60 | .403 |
| 13 | The sounds of music, meal service, and conversations during dining do not usually pose problems for persons with advanced dementia. | .67 | .52 | .337 |
| 16 | When people “call out” over and over again, it is best to not worry about this behavior because it is a common occurrence for persons with advanced dementia. | .78 | .37 | .519 |
| 20 | “Anticipation of need” refers to addressing the needs of persons with advanced dementia through a daily schedule established by the facility where they live. | .24 | .42 | .565 |
| 23 | Persons with advanced dementia cannot really convey or relate to caregivers if they are hungry, have pain, or need to use the bathroom. | .41 | .37 | .250 |
| 25 | When persons with advanced dementia rapidly become more confused or display changes in behavior, it is likely that their dementia is getting worse. | .46 | .70 | .767 |
| Factor 2–Preventing Negative Outcomes (coefficient α = .73) | ||||
| 4 | It is possible to prevent pressure ulcers in persons with advanced dementia. | .78 | .58 | .442 |
| 5 | It is possible to prevent weight loss in most persons with advanced dementia. | .66 | .28 | .247 |
| 6 | Since persons with advanced dementia are so impaired, it is not likely that they are depressed. | .75 | .40 | .504 |
| 7 | One benefit of advanced dementia is that people no longer have pain. | .88 | .40 | .734 |
| 8 | When a person is resistive to “hands-on” care, it is best to stop what you are doing and come back later to try to complete the task. | .91 | .33 | .265 |
| 12 | Although persons with advanced dementia are incontinent, it is still possible to toilet them. | .84 | .43 | .515 |
| 15 | Physical restraints decrease the chance that a person with advanced dementia will fall. | .69 | .59 | .508 |
| 17 | Persons with advanced dementia never experience boredom. | .81 | .51 | .379 |
| 19 | Persons with advanced dementia should get pain medications around-the-clock, when needed. | .51 | .45 | .290 |
| 21 | If a person with advanced dementia is unable to sleep at night, a sleeping medication should be considered first. | .73 | .67 | .524 |
| 22 | When persons with advanced dementia spit out their food, it is because they are not hungry. | .80 | .58 | .421 |
| Factor 3–Insight and Intuition (coefficient α = .58) | ||||
| 10 | Persons with advanced dementia cannot verbally tell us when they are hungry or thirsty. | .58 | .29 | .480 |
| 14 | Persons with advanced dementia typically die from some sort of infection, such as pneumonia or a urinary tract infection. | .47 | .50 | .617 |
| 18 | If persons with advanced dementia resist (eg, hit, bite, kick) a brief change, it may be due to invasion of privacy. | .68 | .45 | .433 |
| 24 | Persons with advanced dementia can fatigue or tire easily, and as a result, they usually need to lie down frequently. | .62 | .33 | .547 |
Abbreviation: qPAD, Questionnaire on Palliative Care for Advanced Dementia.