Quality of life and self-stigma of schizophrenia patient's caregiver tool: Development and validation using classical test theory and Rasch analysis

Background: Providing care for schizophrenia patients is complex, and it requires dealing with various psychosocial burdens. Aim: To develop and validate a tool that measures the quality of life and self-stigma (SS) of the schizophrenia patient's caregiver (QLSSoSPC). Setting: Outpatient psychiatric services clinics in Saudi Arabia. Methods: The current study used a methodological cross-sectional design. A sample of 205 schizophrenia patients' caregivers was recruited by using a convenient sampling method. Classical Test Theory and Rasch Analysis approaches were used. Results: The developed tool has proven acceptable level of reliability and validity. The analysis confirmed seven-factor structure accounted for 74.4% of the total variance. Cronbach's reliability statistics for the developed tool were satisfactory and ranged from 0.80 to 0.91. Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the QLSSoSPC tool supported its prospective use and allowing us to recommend the implementation of the tool on behalf of clinical and research purposes.