Skip to main content

Table 4 Instruments used for outcome assessment

From: An individualized telephone-based care support program for rural family caregivers of people with dementia: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial

Categories

Instruments description

Hypothesis & description

Primary outcome

Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI): This 22-item scale is used to assess the self-perceived burden by caregivers for providing care to impaired elderly. All items are related on a 5-point scale. The response range is 0 (never) to 4 always, with higher scores indicating higher perceived burden. Cronbach’s alpha of the Chinese version is 0.89 [33].

The ITBCS will reduce the subjective burden of family caregivers.

Secondary outcome

Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D): This 20-item scale measures the frequency of common depressive symptoms. The response range is 0 to 3. Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms. Cronbach’s alpha of the Chinese version is 0.85 [34].

The ITBCS will reduce the depressive symptoms of family caregivers.

12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12): This 12 question instrument will be used to assess health-related quality of life by eight sub-scales. Cronbach’s alpha of the Chinese version is 0.910 [35].

The ITBCS will improve the health-related quality of life of family caregivers.

Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS): This 10-item scale is used to assess objective support, subjective support, and utilization of support on a 7-point scale. A higher score indicates higher levels of social support. SSRS is in the Chinese version. Cronbach’s alpha is 0.94 [36].

The ITBCS will improve the social support of family caregivers.

Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy (RSCSE): This scale includes three subscales to assess caregivers’ beliefs about their ability to address caregiving challenges. The score ranges from 0 (cannot do at all) to 100 (certainly can do). Cronbach’s alpha of the Chinese version for the three subscales is 0.92,0.95 and 0.86 respectively [37].

The ITBCS will improve the self-efficacy of family caregivers in providing care.

Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Q (NPI-Q): This scale is used to measure the severity of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). A higher score indicates the more severe the BPSD and the higher caregiver distress level. Cronbach’s alpha of the Chinese version is 0.851 [38].

The ITBCS will reduce the difficult behaviours of people with dementia.

Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD): This scale is used to assess functional disability in people with dementia. Through an interview, caregivers are required to indicate the actual performance of the people with dementia in functional tasks over the previous 2 weeks with responses of “no”, “yes”, or “not applicable”. A higher score indicates less functional disability while a lower score indicates more dysfunction. Cronbach’s alpha of the Chinese version is 0.91 [39].

The ITBCS will improve competence in ADLs of people with dementia.