Health status assessment tool for the family member caregiver of patients with bipolar disorder: Development and psychometric testing

IntroductionThe caregivers’ health assessment requires the application of a valid instrument that provided based on their experiences about the health concept. The purpose of this study was to develop and test the psychometric properties of the health assessment tool for family member caregivers’ of patients with bipolar disorder.MethodsThis study utilized mixed research. The specific validation processes used were: content and face validity, construct validity using factor analysis, reliability and internal consistency using test–retest reliability and Cronbach's alpha correlation coefficient.ResultsThe exploratory factor analysis revealed ten factors: safe life with peace, maintaining physical health, painful emotions, psychological tolerance, maintaining physical–psychological potency, families and relatives support, health care system support, moral–financial support, maintaining social relationships, and worry over the label. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was 95. Test–retest reliability of the questionnaire with interval time of two weeks was 0.93 (p < 0.001).ConclusionFamily caregivers’ health assessment questionnaire with 75 items helped to determine family caregivers’ health in different settings such as clinical settings, homes and research environments by health care providers.

► Family caregivers’ health assessment questionnaire with 75 items is used in different mental health settings.
► This tool is enabling the caregiver to discuss various aspects of her/his health.
► The F.C.H.A. tool can help practitioners to evaluate the health of caregivers systematically.