title: An evaluation of psychometric properties of caregiver burden outcome measures used in caregivers of children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common, life-long paediatric disability. Taking care of a child with CP often results in caregiver burden/strain in the long run. As caregivers play an essential role in the rehabilitation of these children, it is therefore important to routinely screen for health outcomes in informal caregivers. Consequently, a plethora of caregiver burden outcome measures have been developed; however, there is a dearth of evidence of the most psychometrically sound tools. Therefore, the broad objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the psychometrical properties and clinical utility of tools used to measure caregiver burden in caregivers of children with CP.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a systematic review for the evaluation of the psychometric properties of caregiver burden outcome tools. Two independent and blinded reviewers will search articles on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsychINFO and Africa-Wide Google Scholar. Information will be analysed using predefined criteria. Thereafter, three independent reviewers will then screen the retrieved articles. The methodological quality of studies on the development and validation of the identified tools will be evaluated using the four point COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. Finally, the psychometric properties of the tools which were developed and validated from methodological sound studies will then be analysed using predefined criteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed systematic review will give an extensive review of the psychometrical properties of tools used to measure caregiver burden in caregivers of children with CP. We hope to identify tools that can be used to accurately screen for caregiver burden both in clinical setting and for research purposes.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  PROSPERO CRD42015028026.
authors.affiliation: University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. jermainedambi@gmail.com.|Department of Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P O Box AV 178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe. jermainedambi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jermaine M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dambi
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa. jennifer.jelsma@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jelsma
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P O Box AV 178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe. teclamlambo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Tecla
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mlambo
authors.affiliation: University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. CHWMAT001@myuct.ac.za.|Department of Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P O Box AV 178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe. CHWMAT001@myuct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiwaridzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P O Box AV 178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe. NyarieMnambah@live.com.
authors.forename: Nyaradzai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dangarembizi-Munambah
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa. CRTLIE001@myuct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Lieselotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corten
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic