Carlozzi NE, Kallen MA, Ianni PA, Hahn EA, French LM, Lange RT, Brickell TA, Hanks R, Sander AM. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2019; 100(4S): S13-S21.
Affiliation
H. Ben Taub Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine & Harris Health System, Houston, TX, USA; Brain Injury Research Center, TIRR Memorial Hermann, Houston, TX, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To develop a new measure of caregiver strain for use in caregivers of individuals with TBI, TBI-CareQOL Caregiver Strain.
DESIGN: Qualitative data, literature reviews, and cross-sectional survey study. SETTING: Three TBI Model Systems rehabilitation hospitals, an academic medical center, and a military medical treatment facility. PARTICIPANTS: Five-hundred-sixty caregivers of civilians (n=344) or service members/veterans (SMVs) with TBI (n=216). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: TBI-CareQOL Caregiver Strain Item Bank Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, a graded response model (GRM) and differential item functioning supported the retention of 33 items in the final measure. GRM calibration data was used to inform the selection of a 6-item static short form, and to program the TBI-CareQOL Caregiver Strain computer-adaptive test (CAT). CAT simulation analyses indicated a 0.97 correlation between the CAT scores and the full item-bank. Three-week test-retest reliability was strong (r = 0.83).
CONCLUSIONS: The new TBI-CareQOL Caregiver Strain CAT and corresponding 6-item short form were developed using established rigorous measurement development standards; this is the first self-reported measure developed to evaluate caregiver strain in caregivers of individuals with TBI.