Background
Among many screening tools that have been developed to detect frailty in older adults, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a valid, reliable and easy-to-use tool that has been translated in several languages. The aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable version of the CFS to the Greek language.
Methods
A Greek version was obtained by translation (English to Greek) and back translation (Greek to English). The “known-group” construct validity of the CFS was determined by using test for trends. Criterion concurrent validity was assessed by evaluating the extent that CFS relates to Barthel Index, using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Both inter-rater and test–retest reliability were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient.
Results
Known groups comparison supports the construct validity of the CFS. The strong negative correlation between CFS and Barthel Index (rs = − 0,725, p ≤ 0.001), supports the criterion concurrent validity of the instrument. The intraclass correlation was good for both inter-rater (0.87, 95%CI: 0.82–0.90) and test-retest reliability (0.89: 95%CI: 0.85–0.92).
Conclusion
The Greek version of the CFS is a valid and reliable instrument for the identification of frailty in the Greek population.
Background
Caregiving has been associated with increased subjective burden and decreased health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) for caregivers. The aim of the study was to clarify the precise relationship between caregivers' burden, caregivers' HRQOL, and other risk factors, considering that subjective burden was a risk factor for poor HRQOL, which may also mediate the effects of some known risk factors.
Methods
In this cross‐sectional study, patients' and their informal caregivers' characteristics were recorded for 311 patient‐caregiver dyads. Subjective caregiver burden and caregivers' HRQOL were assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview and the 12‐item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐12), respectively. Mediation analysis was used to examine the relationships between variables. Caregivers' mental component summary (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS) scores were regarded as outcome variables, caregivers' subjective burden was considered the mediator, and patients' and caregivers' characteristics were treated as predictors.
Results
Caregivers' subjective burden was negatively related to both PCS and MCS of caregivers' HRQOL, after controlling for the effects of demographic and clinical variables. Moreover, significant associations, mostly indirect via caregivers' subjective burden, existed between caregivers' socio‐demographic characteristics, duration of caregiving, patients' frailty status, patients' co‐morbidity, and caregivers' HRQOL.
Conclusion
Caregivers' subjective burden plays a major and mediating role on influencing caregivers' HRQOL. Our findings may direct future research and promote the implementation of interventions to reduce caregivers' burden and improve caregivers' HRQOL.
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