Abstract

Measuring effects of cancer on family caregivers is important to develop methods which can improve their quality of life (QOL) . Nevertheless, up to now, only a few tools have been developed to be used in this group. Among those, the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer Scale (CQOLC) has met minimum psychometric criteria in different populations in spite of conflicting results. The present study was conducted to evaluate reliability and validity of CQOLC among Turkish cancer family caregivers. The CQOLC was administered to 120 caregivers, along with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Medical Outcomes Study MOS 36- Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Internal consistency and test-retest stability were used to investigate reliability. Construct validity was examined by using known group method, convergent, and divergent validity. For the known group method, we hypothesized that CQOLC scores would differ between depressed and non-depressed subjects. We investigated convergent validity by correlating scores for CQOLC with scores for other similar measures including SF-36 and STAI. The MSPSS was completed at the same time as CQOLC to provide divergent validity. The values for internal consistency and test-retest correlation were 0.88 and 0.96, respectively. The CQOLC discriminated those who were depressed from those who were not. Convergent validity supported strong correlations between CQOLC scores and two main component scores (PCS, MCS) in SF-36 although there was a weak correlation between CQOLC and STAI scores. Regarding divergent validity, the correlation between CQOLC and MSPSS was in the low range, as expected. The Turkish CQOLC is a reliable and valid tool and it can be utilized to determine QOL of family caregivers.

Highlights

  • Cancer is one of the most frequent causes of death in Turkey

  • Materials and Methods: The Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer Scale (CQOLC) was administered to 120 caregivers, along with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Medical Outcomes Study MOS 36- Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)

  • We conducted retest procedure two weeks after the first test of the CQOLC in SF-36: Physical health r=0.53 p=0.000 a sample consisting of 20 caregivers

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Summary

Introduction

Cancer is one of the most frequent causes of death in Turkey. the most frequent cause of death is diseases of the circulatory diseases followed by cancer in Turkey. According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Health of Turkey between 2000 and 2006, there are 396,000 cancer patients. Measuring effects of cancer on family caregivers is important to develop methods which can improve their quality of life (QOL). The present study was conducted to evaluate reliability and validity of CQOLC among Turkish cancer family caregivers. Materials and Methods: The CQOLC was administered to 120 caregivers, along with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Medical Outcomes Study MOS 36- Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). We investigated convergent validity by correlating scores for CQOLC with scores for other similar measures including SF-36 and STAI. Conclusions: The Turkish CQOLC is a reliable and valid tool and it can be utilized to determine QOL of family caregivers

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