Assessing the Impact of Caring for a Person with Schizophrenia: Development of the Schizophrenia Caregiver Questionnaire

Overview

Journal Patient

Specialty Health Services

Date 2015 Feb 15

PMID 25680337

Citations 13

Authors

Adam Gater

Diana Rofail

Chris Marshall

Chloe Tolley

Linda Abetz-Webb

Steven H Zarit

Carmen Galani Berardo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The responsibilities of caring for a person with schizophrenia may significantly impact informal caregivers' lives. The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) was originally developed to assess burden among caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: This research was conducted to inform the development of a revised version of the ZBI, relevant to caregivers of people with schizophrenia.

Methods: Based on published qualitative research, the questionnaire was reviewed and modified in accordance with industry-standard guidelines. The resulting questionnaire [the Schizophrenia Caregiver Questionnaire (SCQ)] was then completed by 19 caregivers during cognitive debriefing interviews to assess understanding, relevance and comprehensiveness.

Results: Review of the ZBI resulted in a number of operational changes to improve face validity and potential sensitivity. Further questions were added based on key concepts identified in existing literature and minor phrasing alterations were made to improve content validity. Findings from caregiver interviews supported the content validity of the SCQ.

Conclusion: The SCQ provides a comprehensive view of caregivers' subjective experiences of caregiving and demonstrated strong face and content validity. The questionnaire will be important in both clinical assessment and evaluating the efficacy of interventions designed to reduce or alleviate caregiver burden. Future research will seek to establish the psychometric validity of the questionnaire.

Citing Articles

Self-Assessment Instruments for Supporting Family Caregivers: An Integrative Review.

Benedetti F, Hechinger M, Fringer A Healthcare (Basel). 2024; 12(10).

PMID: 38786426 PMC: 11120749. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12101016.

Hermeneutic Phenomenological Approach to the Experiences of the Individuals Living with Schizophrenia: A Qualitative Study.

Kanniappan V, Abishek J Indian J Community Med. 2023; 48(5):762-770.

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Translation and validation of the Schizophrenia Caregiver Questionnaire - Japanese version (J-SCQ).

Kamizawa N, Miyamura T Heliyon. 2023; 9(2):e13338.

PMID: 36816236 PMC: 9932473. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13338.

Development and Psychometric Validation of the 27 Item Zarit Caregiver Interview for Alzheimer's Disease (ZCI-AD-27).

Bernaards C, Fischer K, Rylands A, Gater A, Tolley C, Zarit S Curr Alzheimer Res. 2023; 19(13):878-891.

PMID: 36588335 PMC: 10278238. DOI: 10.2174/1567205020666221230103505.

Self-Report Measures Assessing Aspects of Personal Recovery in Relatives and Other Informal Carers of Those With Psychosis: A Systematic Review.

Hilton C, Jones S, Akers N, Panagaki K, Sellwood W Front Psychol. 2022; 13:926981.

PMID: 35911034 PMC: 9335122. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.926981.

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