São Paulo Medical Journal (Mar 2024)

Translation and cultural adaptation of the Positive Aspects of Caregiving Scale for caregivers of people living with dementia in Brazilian context: a methodological study

  • Sofia Cristina Iost Pavarini,
  • Aline Cristina Martins Gratão,
  • Camila Rafael Ferreira Campos,
  • Diana Quirino Monteiro,
  • Elizabeth Joan Barham,
  • Fabiana de Souza Orlandi,
  • Gabriela Martins,
  • Gustavo Carrijo Barbosa,
  • Keila Cristianne Trindade da Cruz,
  • Larissa Corrêa,
  • Luana Aparecida da Rocha,
  • Ludmyla Caroline de Souza Alves,
  • Ana Carolina Ottaviani

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-3180.2023.0325.r1.23012024
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 142, no. 2

Abstract

Read online Read online

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The Positive Aspects of Caregiving (PAC) scale is used to assess psychosocial benefits provided to caregivers by the task of caring. The PAC scale consists of nine items, assessed using a five-point Likert scale, with higher values indicating greater positive perceptions and gains from the caregiving experience. OBJECTIVE: To translate and culturally adapt the PAC scale for informal Brazilian caregivers of people with dementia. DESIGN AND SETTING: A methodological study was conducted at the Federal University of São Carlos. METHODS: The following stages were carried out: Translation; Synthesis of the translations; Back-translation; Evaluation by an experts’ committee; and Pre-test. RESULTS: Two independent professionals translated the PAC scale. The consensus version was obtained by merging both translations, which were back-translated into English by a third translator. The expert committee comprised three specialists in the area and project researchers. All scale items presented a Content Validity Index of 1 (CVI = 1.0), and thus remained in the pre-final version of the instrument. The instrument was pre-tested with seven caregivers of people with dementia, the majority of whom were women (57.1%), with a degree of kinship corresponding to sons/daughters (57.1%) and an average age of 55.2 (± 4.1) years. The caregivers considered it clear and understandable and made no suggestions for changes. CONCLUSION: The PAC scale was translated and culturally adapted for use by informal caregivers of people with dementia in Brazil. However, a psychometric analysis of the instrument is necessary to provide normative data for this population group.

Keywords