Türk Göğüs Kalp Damar Cerrahisi Dergisi-Turkish Journal Of Thoracic And Cardiovascular Surgery, cilt.26, sa.1, ss.73-80, 2018 (SCI Expanded İndekslerine Giren Dergi)
ABSTRACT
Background: In this study, the Family Caregiver Quality of
Life scale developed specifically for family caregivers of heart
failure patients was translated into the Turkish language, and its
reliability and validity was performed.
Methods: The scale was first translated into Turkish and
back-translated, adapting it to the Turkish culture. The Turkish
questionnaire of the scale was applied to 200 family caregivers.
To evaluate the reliability of the scale and all subscales,
test-retest was applied, and the Cronbach’s alpha reliability
coefficients were calculated. The structural validity of the scale
was examined through the factor analysis.
Results: The internal consistency reliability (a=0.82) of the
Turkish Questionnaire of the scale was proved. Two-week
test-retest reliability was supported by an intraclass correlation
coefficient of 0.91. The questionnaire’s factor structure
demonstrated acceptable fit, indicating that it could be applied
to the Turkish population. The item loads found by the factor
analysis ranged from 0.32 to 0.99, explaining %63 of the variance
(eigenvalue=2.61-4.06). Criterion-related validity was supported
by correlations with the Short Form-36 General (r=0.473, p<0.01)
and Mental (r=0.406; p<0.01) Health subscales.
Conclusion: The Turkish version of this scale can measure the
quality of life of family caregivers of heart failure patients with
adequate reliability and validity.
Keywords: Family caregiver; health failure; quality of life scale.