A 75-item questionnaire generated from content analysis of interviews with caregivers was self-completed by 837 caregivers of cancer patients. In addition to sociodemographic data and patient characteristics, self-reported questionnaires assessing QoL, burden, coping and social support were collected. Psychometric properties combined methods relying on both classical test theory and item response theory.
The final 29 items selected assessed 10 dimensions: psychological well-being, burden, relationship with health care, administration and finances, coping, physical well-being, self-esteem, leisure time, social support and private life; they were isolated from principal component analysis explaining 73%of the total variance. The missing data and the floor effects were low. Some ceiling effects were found for B (34%). Cronbach鈥檚 alpha coefficients ranged from 0.72 to 0.89, except private life (PL) (0.55). Unidimensionality of the scales was confirmed by Rasch analyses. Correlations with other instruments confirmed the isolated content and significant links were found with respect to patient鈥檚 characteristics. Reproducibility and sensitivity to change were found satisfactory.
The CarGOQoL could provide a reliable and valid measure of caregivers of cancer patients鈥?QoL which are key-actors in the provision of health care.