[Use of Zarit scale for assessment of caregiver burden in palliative care].
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to validate the use of the Zarit scale for the identification and follow up of caregivers burden in palliative care.


METHODS
We used the Zarit scale and performed a semistructured interview (on admission and at 10 days) to 44 inpatients' carers.


RESULTS
We found that both the Zarit scale and the interview were strongly associated in the identification of caregivers burden (kappa = 0.879; p < 0.005). Significant improvement of caregivers burden at 10 days was seen (p < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
The Zarit scale is a useful tool for the identification and follow up of caregivers burden. Admission to a palliative care unit improves significantly the level of caregivers burden.
Gort
Ana M
AM
Unidad Sociosanitaria. Gestió de Serveis Sanitaris. Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova. Lleida. Spain. angor@gss.scs.es
Mazarico
Silvia
S
Ballesté
Jordi
J
Barberá
Joana
J
Gómez
Xavier
X
de Miguel
Mariano
M
D017028:Caregivers; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires