Preparation of the Japanese Version of the Diabetes Caregiver Activity and Support Scale and Verification of Its Reliability and Validity

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of the study was to adapt and psychometrically evaluate a Japanese language version of the Diabetes Caregiver Activity and Support Scale (D-CASS-J) to be culturally relevant for people with diabetes living in Japan. Methods A Japanese translation of the original version of the D-CASS was prepared, corrected, and back-translated. Family caregivers of patients with diabetes mellitus ages ≥65 years who visited the outpatient diabetes clinic of Ise Red Cross Hospital were included. Cronbach’s α coefficients were calculated as an assessment of internal consistency. Exploratory factor analyses were performed to verify construct validity. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed using depression as the dependent variable and D-CASS-J and other variables as explanatory variables. Pearson’s correlation coefficients between D-CASS-J scores and the support burden scale scores were calculated to verify criterion-related validity. Results This analysis included 268 subjects. Cronbach’s α coefficient was .86. Factor analyses showed the same single-factor structure as the original version of the D-CASS. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses based on the conceptual model demonstrated construct validity. D-CASS-J scores were significantly correlated with support burden scale scores. Conclusions For family caregivers of elderly patients with diabetes in Japan, D-CASS-J can be used as a tool to evaluate difficulties experienced while providing support to patients.