A scale development study: Primary Caregiver Burden Scale Individuals Receiving Hemodialysis Treatment.

Introduction: As hemodialysis is a long-term treatment method requiring significant self-management skills, it affects both the patient and the caregiver in many ways. It is inevitable that changes in the burden perceived by the caregiver over time will not affect the patient's health care outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop an up-to-date scale by examining the psychometric properties of items created specifically for the care burden perceived by individuals who provide care for patients receiving hemodialysis treatment.

Methods: This study is a methodological study with the use of the COSMIN Checklist. The sample of the study included 404 individuals who were the primary caregivers of patients receiving hemodialysis treatment. Data were collected using descriptive characteristics form and the draft form of the Primary Caregiver Burden Scale Individuals Receiving Hemodialysis Treatment. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and predictive validity were used to evaluate validity. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient, item analysis, and test-retest method were employed to evaluate reliability.

Results: According to exploratory factor analysis, a scale structure with four subdimensions was determined, and goodness of fit was achieved using confirmatory factor analysis. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the final form of the scale consisting of 34 items was found to be 0.95 for the total scale, 0.93 for the self-management support subscale, 0.91 for the psychological support subscale, 0.91 for the caregiver symptom subscale, and 0.93 for the caregiver individual coping subscale.

Conclusion: The Primary Caregiver Burden Scale Individuals Receiving Hemodialysis Treatment, which was found to meet the validity and reliability criteria, has a four-point Likert-type scoring structure, 34 items, and four subdimensions. It is thought that the scale can make significant contributions to the international literature if its validity and reliability are established with nursing practices and research.