The Caregiver Quality of Life Cystic Fibrosis (CQOLCF) scale: modification and validation of an instrument to measure quality of life in cystic fibrosis family caregivers.

OBJECTIVE: Modify the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) scale (Weitzner, Jacobsen et al. Qual Life Res 2000; 8: 55-63) as the Caregiver Quality of Life Cystic Fibrosis (CQOLCF) scale, validate it with cystic fibrosis (CF) family caregivers, and assess caregiver quality of life QOL with patient disease severity.
METHODS: Following modifications, 100 family caregivers were administered the CQOLCF. Construct validity was assessed by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Pulmonary function scores and hospitalizations assessed relationship between caregiver QOL and patient disease severity.
RESULTS: Split-half reliability was 0.862 and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was 0.909. As expected, there were relatively high correlations with the mental health (0.634) and emotional distress (-0.687); and low correlations with physical health (0.049). ANCOVA examined differences in the CQOLCF totals based on disease severity, controlling for age. Significant mean differences existed (days hospitalized F = 3.010, sig. = 0.022). DISCUSSION: The CQOLCF appears to be a valid, reliable, and internally consistent disease-specific scale with CF family caregivers. Future research recommendations include administering the CQOLCF to an increased study sample to explore item factor analysis.