Development of the short version of the informal caregiver burden assessment questionnaire

Abstract

Objetive: to create a reduced version of the QASCI, which is structurally equivalent to the long one and meets the criteria of reliability and validity. Method: Through secondary data from previous studies, the participants were divided into two samples, one for the development of reduced version and the second for study of the factorial validity. Participants responded to QASCI, the SF 36, the ADHS and demographic questions. Results: A reduced version of 14 items showed adequate psychometric properties of validity and internal consistency, adapted to a heptadimensional structure that assesses positive and negative aspects of care. Conclusion: Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a good fit with the advocated theoretical model.

Nível de sobrecarga e qualidade de vida dos cuidadores de indivíduos com mal de Alzheimer

“…A amostra foi composta por 10 (dez) cuidadores informais de indivíduos com Mal de Alzheimer da UBS Bairro de Fátima no Município de Aracati -Ceará. Todos os cuidadores entrevistados neste estudo eram cuidadores informais, que se identificaram, em sua maioria, como cuidadores principais, ou seja, responsáveis pelo idoso e pela maior parte das tarefas 11 .…”

Validation of the Informal Caregiver Burden Assessment Questionnaire for Brazil – short version

“…For data collection, it was used the QASCI short version adapted for Brazil (14 items) (9) and a sociodemographic questionnaire with the following items: age, gender, schooling, degree of kinship, number of hours per day dedicated to caring, and how long they acted as caregivers for that person. The QASCI items are distributed in seven domains: Emotional Burden (BE) -two items; Implications in Personal Life (IPL) -two items; Financial Burden (FB) -two items; Reactions and Demands (RD) -two items; Perception of Efficiency and Control Mechanisms (PECM) -two items; Family Support (FSup) -two items; Satisfaction with the Role and Family Member (SFR) -two items.…”

“…In this context, the Informal Caregiver Burden Assessment Questionnaire (QASCI) has been a structurally balanced instrument and has demonstrated adequate validity and accuracy in the populations of caregivers to which it was applied (7)(8) . In addition, the questionnaire seeks to assess not only the physical burden but also the emotional and social burden factors (9) .…”

“…Following recommendations about the need for more concise instruments that involve less time spent in their completion (9,(11)(12)(13)(14) , the Portuguese authors developed a short version of the QASCI in 2016 (9) . This version consists of 14 items also arranged in the same seven dimensions, and it showed adequate values in the psychometric assessment in the context in which it was evaluated (9) .…”

Validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment

“…The provision of care to a dependent elderly person can generate overload in the caregivers and especially in informal caregivers (6) . Such overload can be understood as the result of the caregivers' self-assessment of their social roles, functions performed, perception and evolution of the health problems that affect the person cared for, as well as the influence of these factors on the different domains of their lives (7) .…”