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Families' caring competence plays a key role in caring for the elderly with dementia. In particular, the management of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia is different from the management of other symptoms of dementia. However, there is no tool for evaluating family caregiver competence for managing the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. This study aimed to develop a competence scale in managing the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia for family caregivers and to evaluate its psychometric properties. An instrument development and cross-sectional validation study was conducted. Twenty-one local dementia centres in Seoul, Korea. A total of 460 community-dwelling family caregivers of people living with dementia (mean age = 69.82 ± 11.08, female = 78.7%, spouse = 65.7%) participated in the study. This study was conducted in two steps: (1) instrument development and (2) psychometric tests (N = 460). After item generation and the evaluation of content validity and face validity, a total of 39 preliminary items were tested. For the psychometric tests, item analysis using the corrected item-to-total correlations and construct validity with exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were performed. Using measurement tools of the Behaviour Management Skill, a Visual Analogue Scale, and a general question of the scale developed in this study, the concurrent validity was examined by calculating Pearson's correlation coefficient. Reliability was evaluated with Cronbach's α, test reliability with the standard error of measurement, and test-retest reliability with the intraclass correlation coefficient. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded a six-factor solution with 28 items. The six factors were 'person-centred attitude', 'introspection for improvement', 'symptom occurrence analysis', 'application of various strategies', 'awareness of symptoms' and 'caring for one's own mind and body'. The concurrent validity was established. The reliability was demonstrated to be acceptable (Cronbach's α = 0.922, ICC = 0.781). The competence scale in managing the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia for family caregivers was found to be a valid and reliable instrument. The scale is potentially useful for promoting better dementia care in both research and clinical practice settings by enabling the identification of needs to be improved for family caregivers in coping with dementia symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper presents the stress test method developed for Korean nuclear power plants focusing assessment method of plant response capability to the loss of safety functions due to extended loss of AC power (ELAP) and loss of ultimate heat sink (LUHS). • This paper also shows assessment results of plant response capability in the events of ELAP and LUHS of OPR1000 that is a standardized PWR by Korea based on the ABB-CE System 80. • Multi-barrier accident coping strategy (MACST) guidelines have been developed to accomplish specific tasks in support of emergency operating procedures (EOP) when the extended loss power AC power and/or loss of ultimate heat sink is in progress as a consequence of beyond design basis natural events. • Safety provisions to secure critical safety functions are presented with cliff edge time evaluation at each step of plant response to extended loss of AC power and loss of ultimate heat sink. This paper presents a stress test method developed for Korean nuclear power plant and assessment results of plant response capability of OPR1000 in an effort to enhance the safety against extreme natural events exceeding the design basis of the plant. Multi-barrier accident coping strategy (MACST) guidelines have been developed to accomplish specific tasks in support of Emergency Operating Procedures (EOP) when the Extended Loss of AC Power (ELAP) and/or Loss of Ultimate Heat Sink (LUHS) is in progress as a consequence of beyond design basis natural events. Provisions to secure critical safety functions are discussed with cliff edge time evaluation at each step of plant response to ELAP and LUHS. It is concluded that the plant can maintain the safe shutdown state through the natural circulation cooldown by steam generator and the electric power and can obtain additional capability and redundancy with off-site equipment to provide coping capability for an indefinite period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]