Caregiving ability assessment tools for family caregivers of disabled older adults: a scoping review

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To systematically review and analyze the characteristics, psychometric properties, and application status of caregiving ability assessment tools for family caregivers of disabled older adults, providing an evidence-based reference for clinical and community nursing professionals when selecting appropriate instruments. Methods Guided by the Arksey and O’Malley framework and the JBI methodology, this scoping review adhered to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search was conducted across nine Chinese and English databases, including CNKI, CBM, VIP, Wanfang Data, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase, with the search timeframe ranging from database inception to October 19, 2025. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and summarized relevant information. Results We included 25 articles encompassing 21 assessment tools (4 generic and 17 disease-specific). Assessment frameworks have notably shifted from early unidimensional subjective evaluations to multidimensional structures. The most dominant assessed domains include disease-specific knowledge, practical caregiving skills, psychosocial competencies, and resource utilization. While most instruments rely on Likert-type self-reports and demonstrate adequate internal consistency, structural validity and measurement error reporting are frequently limited. Conclusion A diverse array of caregiving ability assessment tools exists globally, yet methodological heterogeneity and fragmented disease-specific designs limit broad comparability. Future tool development would benefit from robust theoretical grounding, multi-center longitudinal validation, and modular architectures (e.g., PROMIS-inspired). Implementing tiered assessment strategies can optimally balance evaluation rigor with clinical feasibility, ultimately supporting international healthy aging initiatives and targeted caregiver interventions.