title: [Use of Zarit scale for assessment of caregiver burden in palliative care].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Sociosanitaria. Gestió de Serveis Sanitaris. Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova. Lleida. Spain. angor@gss.scs.es
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gort
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazarico
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ballesté
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barberá
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Miguel
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires