Psychometric evaluation and cultural adaptation of the Spanish version of the “Scale for End-of Life Caregiving Appraisal”

Objective: To translate, culturally adapt and psychometrically evaluate the Spanish version of the ‘Scale for End-of Life Caregiving Appraisal’ (SEOLCAS).
Methods: Observational cross-sectional study. Convenience sample of 201 informal end-of-life caregivers recruited in a southern Spanish hospital. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed through its internal consistency (Cronbach’s α) and temporal stability (Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) between test-retest). The content validity index of the items (I-CVI) and the scale (S-CVI/Ave) was calculated. Its criterion validity was explored through performing a linear regression analysis to evaluate the SEOLCAS’ predictive validity. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine its construct validity.
Results: The SEOLCAS’s reliability was very high (Cronbach’s α=0.92). Its content validity was excellent (all items’ content validity index=0.8–1; scale’s validity index=0.88). Evidence of the SEOLCAS’ criterion validity showed that the participants’ scores on the SEOLCAS explained approximately 79.3% of the between-subject variation of their results on the Zarit Burden Interview. Exploratory factor analysis provided evidence of the SEOLCAS’ construct validity. This analysis revealed that two factors (‘internal contingencies’ and ‘external contingencies’) explained 53.77% of the total variance found and reflected the stoic Hispanic attitude towards adversity.
Significance of the results: The Spanish version of the ‘Scale for End-of Life Caregiving Appraisal’ has shown to be an easily-applicable, valid, reliable and culturally-appropriate tool to measure the impact of end-of-life care provision on Hispanic informal caregivers. This tool offers healthcare professionals the opportunity to easily explore Hispanic informal end-of-life caregivers’ experiences and discover the type of support they may need (instrumental or emotional) even when there are communicational and organisational constraints.

This article has been published in a revised form in Palliative and Supportive Care, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1478951518000470. This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. © Cambridge University Press 2018