title: The Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) in Singapore: a new preliminary factor structure for caregivers of ambulatory patients with cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) is used worldwide to determine levels of quality of life of caregivers of patients with cancer; however, the few studies examining the underlying factor structure of the CQOLC have revealed differences between Western and Eastern cultures. This study sought to confirm the differences in the factor structures between the original CQOLC and a Taiwanese (Mandarin) version.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 183 caregivers from a cancer center in Singapore participated in this exploratory cross-sectional study. All participants completed the CQOLC and a sociodemographic form; 30 participants repeated the CQOLC two weeks later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Test-retest reliability was adequate for the CQOLC; however, confirmatory factor analyses did not support either the original four-factor model or the Taiwanese five-factor model. Exploratory factor analyses suggested the retaining of five factors to form a 25-item Singapore version (CQOLC-S25): burden, physical/practical concerns, emotional reactivity, self-needs, and social support. Inter-factor and factor scale correlations were positively significant for all factors except Support, which was negatively correlated with emotional reactivity and self-needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cross-cultural differences, which require further investigations, appear to underlie the utility and understanding of the CQOLC. More research is needed to better understand the needs of Singapore caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, NUHS Tower Block, Level 9, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228, Singapore, rathi_mahendran@nuhs.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Rathi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahendran
authors.forename: Haikel A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Chao Xu
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Peh
authors.forename: Siew Eng
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Ee Heok
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012846:Singapore; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
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