Development of a Coping Scale for Families of Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a coping scale for families of patients with schizophrenia (CSFPS). Methods: Item construction was derived from literature reviews and interviews with family members and psychiatric nurses. Content validity was tested by experts. Each item was scored on a four-point Likert scale. The preliminary questionnaire was administered to 188 family members of patients with schizophrenia. The data were analyzed using item analysis, factor analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients, and Cronbach's alpha. Results: From the factor analysis, 32 items in five factors were derived. The factors were named active coping strategies, avoidance coping strategies, hospital treatment-oriented coping strategies, emotional coping strategies, and suppressive coping strategies for problematic behaviors. The five factors explained 49.7% of the total variance, Cronbach's alpha of the total items was .83 and the factors ranged from .66 to .86. Conclusion:The results of this study suggest that CSFPS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure coping in families of patients with schizophrenia.

Strategies for coping with family members of patients with mental disorders

“…The literature mentions numerous studies on coping strategies for family members and caregivers of people with chronic diseases 5 - 6 . Some studies describe these strategies among the caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and psychotic diseases, however using scales that have not been validated in Portuguese 3 , 7 - 8 . Other studies reveal the overload and poor quality of life of the caregivers of patients with psychiatric disorders 9 - 10 .…”

“…Families are generally vulnerable and unprepared to cope with the entire process of the illness and treatment 3 , 8 . For this reason, nurses and other healthcare professionals who live with this reality have a fundamental role to play on the patient/family binomial, supporting them and helping them identify stressors, understanding and recognizing how they cope with problems so as to intervene and minimize suffering, thus making a positive contribution to their readjustment 2 , 7 , 10 .…”

Brief Questionnaire Derived from PANSS Using a General Probability Model to Assess and Monitor the Clinical Features of Schizophrenia

“…But none of the items apply to already discharged patients and neither scale is suitable for family members. Seo Ji Min et al tried to develop a coping scale for the families of patients with schizophrenia [23]. But the items in this scale were derived from lit- erature reviews and interviews with family members and did not correlate with any authoritative scale (e. g., PANSS).…”