Evaluation of the reliability and validity of the Iranian caregiver burden questionnaire for heart failure

Introduction: It is important to have a strong appropriate tool for measuring, evaluating, and understanding the nature and consequences of chronic stresses on caregivers of patients with heart failure (HF). The purpose of this study is the assessment of the validity and reliability of the questionnaire for evaluating the burden on caregivers of patients with HF. Methods: In order to assess the burden of caregivers of patients with HF, the Caregiver Burden Questionnaire for Heart Failure version 3 (CBQ-HF, version 3) was used. After translation and back translation, the questionnaire was provided to 20 caregivers, and after 2 weeks, the same caregivers refilled the questionnaire; so that, we could measure its reliability by calculating Cronbach's alpha. Face validity and content validity were also obtained at this stage. Finally, the questionnaire was provided to eighty caregivers; hence, the total number of one hundred caregivers completed the questionnaire. Results: From a total of 100 collected questionnaires, 68 of participants were male and 32 of participants were female. The mean +/- standard deviation of emotional burden on the patient's caregivers was 46 +/- 10 and the median of the physical, social, and living pattern burden was 14, 4, and 13, respectively. The test-retest reliability showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 94%). Conclusion: This study approved the Persian version of CBQHF questionnaire as a standard and valid tool in Persian language, which can be used among caregivers of patients with HF in order to examine their problems and to plan for improving their quality of life.