Characterizing intensive community-based care : Use, reliability and factor structure of a generic measure

Background: There is a need for a reliable measurement instrument to characterize intensive community-based care across different types of programs. Aims: The aim of the current study was to use and test the previously developed Intensive Community-Based Care Program Components (ICPC) Questionnaire. Method: This questionnaire was used in a census of programs throughout the Netherlands. Reliability of the a priori scales was assessed, and exploratory factor analysis was used to reduce the number of scales and to re-evaluate the structure of the questionnaire. Descriptive data were calculated to characterize Dutch programs. Of the programs, 58% responded to the questionnaire. Results: Of the a priori scales, 70% were internally consistent. With factor analysis the number of scales was considerably reduced (73%), but still explaining 58% of the total variance. Conclusions: This study shows that the ICPC can be used to improve future effect studies and for international comparisons of programs.