Assessing informal caregivers' experiences: a qualitative and psychometric evaluation of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment Scale

Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2008 Mar;17(2):189-99. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2354.2007.00833.x.

Abstract

With the aim to evaluate the Swedish version of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment Scale (CRA), informal caregivers (n = 209) to individuals with a malignant disease, dementia or a physical impairment were recruited. The CRA was developed in the USA and is a self-rating questionnaire consisting of five subscales, measuring family members' reactions to the experience of caring for a relative with mental or physical illnesses. Data were analysed using psychometric and qualitative methods. Findings indicated good internal consistency, and a factor analysis confirmed the structure with five subscales; however, an overlap of items between the subscales was found. A content analysis of respondents' comments indicated that there were problems due to presuppositions inherent in the questions and with the meaning of words. Problems regarding inclusion/exclusion aspects in some concepts were also found. Two aspects of caregiver reactions were found to be missing or only partly covered: worrying and positive experiences. Results from this study suggest that the Swedish version is useful for assessment of caregiver reactions but needs further refinement.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Caregivers / psychology*
  • Dementia / nursing
  • Family / psychology*
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Home Nursing / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / nursing
  • Personal Satisfaction
  • Psychometrics
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Social Support
  • Surveys and Questionnaires / standards
  • Sweden