Development and preliminary validation of a self-perceived burden scale for individuals with chronic illness.

Abstract

Caregiver burden has been studied at length in caregivers of many populations of chronically ill people. The other side of the informal caregiving relationship is the recipient's response to aid, especially their perceptions of the burden they pose to their caregiver. This is referred to as self-perceived burden, and has rarely been studied from the patient's point of view. Strong feelings of being a burden may be an important emotional factor influencing adjustment to illness, compliance with physician's orders, utilization of health-care resources and end-of-life decision-making. The current study advances the current understanding of self-perceived burden through the development and preliminary validation of the Self-Perceived Burden Scale. Through the course of this study, we have developed a valuable screening instrument for feelings of being a burden. It is brief, easily self-administered, and reliably identifies individuals in emotional distress due to feelings of being a burden on others. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)