The feasibility of a psychometric measure for the experiences of funerals

To test the feasibility and reliability and validity of the Experiences of Funerals measure (EIFFEL) measure in a community population. Using a non-experimental psychometric design, 194 participants completed EIFFEL, which was analysed using item completion rates, exploratory and confirmatory factory analyses and corroborated with free-text comments. EIFFEL shows good acceptability although internal consistency was low (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.41,N= 49). Analysis has allowed us to make three practical recommendations: (1) focus on people who had, or felt they should have had, a role in co-arranging the funeral and (2) use numerical rather than categorical scales and (3) provide scale anchoring. Combined, we have developed a second EIFFEL version for further study. Given its acceptability, the second version of EIFFEL could be used in practice with caution, taking care to evaluate its use, particularly its reliability and validity.