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Reliability, Validity and Reference Values of the Zarit Burden Interview for Assessing Informal Caregivers of Community-Dwelling Older Persons with Dementia*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Réjean Hébert
Affiliation:
Sherbrooke Geriatric University Institute
Gina Bravo
Affiliation:
Sherbrooke Geriatric University Institute
Michel Préville
Affiliation:
Sherbrooke Geriatric University Institute

Abstract

Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) is the most widely used instrument for assessing the burden experienced by the caregivers of persons with dementia. As part of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging, the 22-item ZBI was administered to a representative sample of 312 informal caregivers of community-dwelling subjects with dementia. The mean score was 22.4 out of 88 (sd: 16.2) and the median score was 18.5, which is far lower than those reported in previous studies using this instrument with convenience samples. There was no significant difference in the burden score according to the age, gender, living arrangement, marital status or employment status of the caregiver. The ZBI score was more strongly correlated to the depressive mood of the caregivers (r = 0.59) and the behaviour problems of the care recipients (r = 0.64) than their cognitive (r = 0.32) and functional (r = 0.31) status. Following a factor analysis, a 12-item short version of the instrument is proposed with two factors: personal strain (3 items) and role strain (9 items).

Résumé

Le Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) est devenu l'outil d'évaluation le plus courant pour déterminer le fardeau éprouvés par les soignants qui s'occupent de personnes atteintes de démence. Dans le cadre de l'Étude sur la santé et le vieillissement au Canada, on a administré le ZBI de 22 items à un échantillonnage représentatif de 312 soignants naturels s'occupant de malades atteintes de démence vivant à domicile. Le résultat moyen a atteint 22.4 sur 88 (écart-type: 16.2) et le résultat médian était de 18.5, ce qui est beaucoup plus faible que les résultats des études précédentes effectuées au moyen du même outil et d'échantillons de commodité. On n'a pas signalé de différences importantes du fardeau en fonction de l'âge, du sexe, des conditions de vie, de la situation matrimoniale ou professionnelle du soignant. Le résultat du ZBI était par contre plus étroitement relié à l'humeur dépressive des soignants (r = 0,59) et aux problèmes de comportement des malades (r = 0,64) qu'à leur état cognitif (r = 0.32) et à leurs capacités fonctionnelles (r = 0,31). À la suite d'une analyse factorielle, on propose une version abrégée du test en 12 items et deux facteurs: l'astreinte personnelle (3 points) et l'astreinte du rôle (9 points).

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2000

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