Development and psychometric testing of the Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale

Citation
T. Bakas et V. Champion, Development and psychometric testing of the Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale, NURS RES, 48(5), 1999, pp. 250-259
Citations number
42
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science
Journal title
NURSING RESEARCH
ISSN journal
00296562 → ACNP
Volume
48
Issue
5
Year of publication
1999
Pages
250 - 259
Database
ISI
SICI code
0029-6562(199909/10)48:5<250:DAPTOT>2.0.ZU;2-O
Abstract
Background: Family caregivers of stroke survivors experience more depressio n, emotional problems, social inactivity, and general ill-health than nonca regiving individuals. While a number of instruments measure these variables in family caregivers, they are often too global, indicating the need for a situation-specific instrument measuring life changes resulting from provid ing care. Objectives: To develop and psychometrically test the Bakas Caregiving Outco mes Scale (BCOS) measuring changes in family caregiving outcomes in the str oke population. Method: 48 items were developed, with 27 being judged as I content valid by a panel of five experts. Psychometric testing with two convenience samples of family caregivers of stroke survivors (ns = 92,:104) was conducted usin g item analysis. Cronbach's alpha, factor analysis, and hierarchical multip le regression. Results: Item analysis in sample no. 1 resulted in a 12-item scale with alp ha = .90. The scale was further shortened to a 10-item scale in sample no. 2 with alpha =.77. Unidimensionality was supported by factor analysis in bo th samples. Using hierarchical multiple regression, 63% of the variance of the 12-item BCOS in sample no. I, and 45% of the variance of the 10-item BC OS in sample no. 2 was accounted for by the constructs in the conceptual mo del. Criterion-related validity was supported in both samples by significan t correlations with the LIFE-8 and a criterion variable with the same respo nse format as the BCOS. Significant BCOS correlations with he SF-36 Health Survey subscales in sample no. 2 provided further evidence of criterion-rel ated validity. Conclusion: The 10-item BCOS is a brief, easy to administer instrument that has evidence of reliability and validity in family caregivers of stroke su rvivors. The 10-item BCOS could, serve as a valuable measure in research, a s well as an assessment tool to identify family caregivers in need of inter vention.