Margaret L Longacre1, Melissa F Miller2, Carolyn Y Fang3. 1. Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Arcadia University, 450 S. Easton Rd, Glenside, PA, USA. longacrm@arcadia.edu. 2. Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Arcadia University, 450 S. Easton Rd, Glenside, PA, USA. 3. Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Caregivers are rarely assessed for caregiving-related strain. This study explored the psychometric properties of the caregiving-related physical, emotional, and financial strain questions in the National Alliance for Caregiving's (NAC) survey and a new total score (NAC-3). METHODS: Comparisons were made to existing caregiver quality of life, distress, and burden instruments through an online, cross-sectional survey of U.S. adult cancer caregivers. RESULTS: Findings from 299 caregivers showed that the NAC-3 was moderately to strongly associated with each of the comparison instruments. Similar concepts were also shown to be more strongly correlated (except physical health construct) and dissimilar concepts items had weaker correlations. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that the total score and individual items are psychometrically sound for use as compared to established caregiving-related instruments. The total score and items provide a concise option, potentially beneficial for clinical use, and can be compared to nationally representative samples of caregivers through NAC's surveys.
BACKGROUND: Caregivers are rarely assessed for caregiving-related strain. This study explored the psychometric properties of the caregiving-related physical, emotional, and financial strain questions in the National Alliance for Caregiving's (NAC) survey and a new total score (NAC-3). METHODS: Comparisons were made to existing caregiver quality of life, distress, and burden instruments through an online, cross-sectional survey of U.S. adult cancer caregivers. RESULTS: Findings from 299 caregivers showed that the NAC-3 was moderately to strongly associated with each of the comparison instruments. Similar concepts were also shown to be more strongly correlated (except physical health construct) and dissimilar concepts items had weaker correlations. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that the total score and individual items are psychometrically sound for use as compared to established caregiving-related instruments. The total score and items provide a concise option, potentially beneficial for clinical use, and can be compared to nationally representative samples of caregivers through NAC's surveys.
Authors: Christine J McPherson; Thomas Hadjistavropoulos; Alana Devereaux; Michelle M Lobchuk Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2014-08-08 Impact factor: 3.234