Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Care and Comfort
Caregiver Questionnaire (CareQ), which was developed to measure the perceived
effort of caregivers in providing care for children with moderate to severe
cerebral palsy (CP). DESIGN: Cross-sectional data collection from a
representative sample of a large racially/ethnically diverse geographic region.
SETTING: Outpatient CP clinics at a metropolitan rehabilitation institution.
PARTICIPANTS: A total of 100 primary caregivers of children with CP whose Gross
Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels were III-V. METHODS: The
CareQ was administered to primary caregivers of children with CP. Internal
consistency of the CareQ and its 3 domains (Personal Care, Positioning/Transfers,
and Comfort) were evaluated with the Cronbach alpha. Construct validity of the
CareQ was evaluated by its correlation with the Pediatric Functional Independence
Measure (WeeFIM). Associations between CareQ scores and child and caregiver
characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: Mean CareQ scores for children with GMFCS
levels III, IV, and V were 30.6, 42.8, and 45.1, respectively (P < .01). The
Cronbach alpha was 0.90 for total CareQ and 0.93, 0.80, and 0.82 for its Personal
Care, Positioning/Transfers, and Comfort domains, respectively. Total CareQ and
WeeFIM scores were negatively correlated (r = -.22; P = .03). Total CareQ scores
were positively correlated with the child's age (r = .38; P < .01) and with body
weight (r =.37; P < .01); however, no caregiver characteristics were associated
with CareQ scores. CONCLUSIONS: The CareQ is a concise and internally consistent
measure of difficulty of care as perceived by caregivers of children whose GMFCS
levels were III-V. Further investigation should include assessment of
responsiveness of the CareQ to changes in the child's functional status over time
and/or with rehabilitation interventions.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS