You are here

  1. Home
  2. Development of the Motor Neuron Disease Carer Questionnaire

Development of the Motor Neuron Disease Carer Questionnaire

Our objective was to develop a validated questionnaire that can measure the extent to which dimensions of caring affect the health of carers of patients with motor neuron disease. An initial 190-item questionnaire was developed from in-depth interviews, focus groups and two pilot studies with carers. Factor analysis was applied to the data obtained from a large survey in the UK that identified the underlying dimensions of caring. The newly formed scales were tested for reliability using Cronbach's α, and for construct validity. The SF36-v2 was the benchmark instrument on which correlations were made to ascertain the relationship with carers’ health. A 34-item instrument was developed which has demonstrated promising evidence of internal reliability and validity for six scales: emotional well-being, physical well-being, self care, disturbed sleep, carers’ support needs and statutory services. High correlations were found with the Mental Component Score summary scale of the SF-36v2 (0.40–0.66). The development and testing of the MNDCQ indicates that as the carers’ score on the MNDCQ increases, suggesting a higher level of burden, they are more likely to report poor health. Further longitudinal studies are needed to further test the instruments’ ability to detect change over time.

Access source material through DOI
Additional Titles
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Key Information

Type of Reference
Jour
Type of Work
Article
ISBN/ISSN
17482968
Resource Database
A9h
Publication Year
2009
Issue Number
5/6
Volume Number
10
Start Page
463-469