Korean version of the preparedness for caregiving scale, caregiver competence scale, and rewards of caregiving scale in family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer

Objective This study aimed to translate and evaluate the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, Caregiver Competence Scale, and Rewards of Caregiving in Korean family caregivers cohabiting with advanced cancer patients. Methods Linguistic validation and cultural adaptation of the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, Caregiver Competence Scale, and Rewards of Caregiving Scale were performed according to a standardized forward-backward translation protocol. We conducted a psychometric evaluation of a total of 200 family caregivers at one oncologic clinic. Results Cronbach’s α for the the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, Caregiver Competence Scale, and Rewards of Caregiving Scale was 0.94, 0.86, and 0.94, respectively. Through exploratory factor analysis, three factors were identified in the combined model that corresponded to the three scales. The combined model was found to account for 71.6% of the overall variance. Concurrent validity of Korean version of scales was established by its negative correlation with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Korean version of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment, and anxiety/depression domain and index of EQ-5D-3 L collectively and respectively (all p < 0.05). The the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, Caregiver Competence Scale, and combined use of three scales also were negatively correlated with the Korean version of the Caregiver Quality of Life Index with statistical significance (all p < 0.01). Conclusions The Korean versions of the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, Caregiver Competence Scale, and Rewards of Caregiving Scale are valid and reliable measures for assessing multiple factors in family caregivers of advanced cancer patients.