Tools for measuring individual self-care capability. A systematic scoping review of the literature

Abstract

Abstract Background Various instruments are used to measure individual self-care capability for healthy individuals, those experiencing everyday self-limiting conditions, or one or more multiple long-term conditions. Objective Identify and characterise self-care measurement tools that are designed for adults. We also sought to assess the extent to which each item of the instruments identified could be mapped to the Seven Pillars of Self-Care (7PSC) framework. Design Systematic scoping review with thematic content analysis. Methods We conducted a systematic scoping review of the literature to identify instruments that could be used to assess self-care behaviours among the general population. The search was conducted in Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases using a variety of MeSH terms and keywords covering 1 January 1950 to 30 November 2022. Inclusion criteria included tools assessing health literacy, capability and/or performance of general health self-care practices and targeting adults. We excluded tools targeting self-care in the context of disease management only or indicated to a specific medical setting or theme. Results We identified 38 tools. Descriptive analysis highlighted a shift in the overall emphasis from rehabilitation-focused to prevention-focused tools. The intended method of administration also transitioned from observe-and-interview style methods to the utilisation of self-reporting tools. Only five tools incorporated questions relevant to 7PSC. Conclusions Self-care can play a crucial role in the prevention, management and rehabilitation of diverse conditions, especially chronic non-communicable diseases. There is a need for the development of a comprehensive measurement tool that could be used to evaluate individual self-care capacity and capability.