Validating the Use of TBI-CareQOL Measures in Caregivers of People Living With Dementia

Abstract

Understanding the clinical utility of patient-reported outcome measures is critical for using these measures in research and clinical practice. Therefore, the purpose of this analysis was to establish the psychometric properties of three TBI-CareQOL measures in caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRD): Caregiver Strain, Caregiver-Specific Anxiety, and Feeling Trapped. One-hundred-and-ninety-seven caregivers of individuals living with ADRD (n=197) completed three TBI-CareQOL measures, three additional measures to establish convergent and discriminant validity (NIH Toolbox Perceived Stress, Dementia Management Strategies Scale, PROMIS Pain Intensity), and the Dementia Severity Rating Scale to establish known groups validity. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the TBI-CareQOL measures were supported (alphas >.70). The TBI-CareQOL measures were also free of floor and ceiling effects. Convergent, discriminant, and known groups validity were also supported. Taken together, findings support the clinical utility of the TBI-CareQOL measures for caregivers of people living with ADRD.