title: A measure of perceived burden among caregivers.
abstract: This report describes an easily administered scale for measuring perceived burden among caregivers of family members with dementia. During home interviews conducted in 1991, 82 caregivers rated their family member with dementia on several items related to functional ability, the type of care provided, and associated stress. The resulting measure of perceived burden, based on 15 internally consistent items (alpha = 0.87), is significantly correlated with depressive symptomatology (r = 0.38, p = 0.0004). This measure is useful in assessing perceived stress associated with specific caregiving responsibilities. It can be used, along with other measures of patient functional status, to assess overall caregiver burden and to target intervention strategies.
authors.affiliation: University of South Carolina.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Macera
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Eaker
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jannarone
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Stoskopf
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D013022:South Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology