A criterion-related validity study of the nursing-care dependency (NCD) scale

The purpose of this study was to examine some aspects of the criterion-related validity of the Nursing-Care Dependency (NCD) scale. This 15-item counting scale has recently been developed for assessing the care dependency of demented or mentally handicapped in-patients. Its criterion-related validity was investigated by studying the relationship between the Nursing-Care Dependency scale, the Rating Scale for Elderly Patients (RSEP), the Behavior Observation Scale for Intramural Psychogeriatrics (BOSIP) and the Scale for Social Functioning (SSF). Data were collected from 322 demented and 105 mentally handicapped patients using the mentioned instruments. High correlations were found between NCD and RSEP, and NCD and SSF. There was a low relationship between the NCD sumscore and BOSIP subscales-scores. The NCD was able to purposefully distinguish diagnostic groups of demented patients when an external criterion was used. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.