BioPsychoSocial Assessment Tools for the Elderly - Assessment Summary Sheet

Test: Modified Care Giver Strain Index (MCSI)

Year: 2003

Domain: Psychological/Social

Assessment Tool Category: Caregiver, Social Support

Variations/Translations: The MCSI is a modified version of the original Caregiver Strain Index developed in 1983. The MCSI clarifies and updates some of the items on the original instrument.

Setting: Clinical

Method of Delivery: Self-Administered Questionnaire

Description: The cumulative toll of caring for a family member can result in stress and burnout for the caregiver. Screening tools are useful to identify families who would benefit from a comprehensive assessment of the caregiving experience; hence, the Modified Caregiver Strain Index (CSI) was developed. The tool can be used to quickly screen for caregiver strain for long-term family caregivers. It is a 13-question tool that measures strain related to care provision. There is at least one item for each of the following major domains: Employment, Financial, Physical, Social, and Time. This instrument can be used to assess individuals of any age who have assumed the role of caregiver for an older adult.

Scoring/Interpretation: Scoring is 2 points for each ‘yes’ and 1 point for each ‘sometimes’ response. There is no breakdown of score regarding low, moderate or high caregiver strain. Professional judgment is needed to evaluate the total score of the level of caregiver strain. The higher the test score, the higher the level of caregiver strain and the greater the need for in-depth assessment for appropriate interventions. The tool effectively identifies families who may benefit from more in-depth assessment and follow-up.

Time to Administer: Not stated but estimated to be very brief (~ 5 minutes)

Availability: Questionnaire access available online at http://www.hartfordign.org/Resources/Try_This_Series/

Software: N/A

Website: Information available at http://www.annalsoflongtermcare.com/content/the-modified-caregiver-strain-index-csi or http://www.hartfordign.org/Resources/Try_This_Series/

Quantitative/Qualitative: Quantitative

Validity (Quantitative): Correlates well with variables often associated with caregiver stress and enduring strain. The relationship between selected caregiver characteristics, care giving circumstances, and caregiver strain (the Modified CSI scores) were assessed through Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients. All three of these functioning relationships with caregiver strain were significant at the .01 level of significance.

Reliability (Quantitative): The internal reliability coefficient (α = .90) is slightly better than that of the original index (α = 0.86). A two-week test-retest reliability coefficient of .88 has been reported.

References:

Onega, L.L. (2008). Helping those who help others: The Modified Caregiver Strain Index. The American Journal of Nursing, 108(9), 69-70.

Pearlin, L., Mullan, J., Semple, S. & Skaff, M. (1990). Caregiving and the stress process: An overview of concepts and their measures. The Gerontologist, 30(5), 583-594.

Robinson, B.C. (1983). Validation of a Caregiver Strain Index. Journal of Gerontology, 38(3), 344-348.

Thornton, M., & Travis, S.S. (2003). Analysis of the reliability of the Modified Caregiver Strain Index. The Journal of Gerontology, Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 58B(2), S127-132.

Comments: The tool is limited by lack of a corresponding subjective rating of caregiving impact. Additional items and further efforts to develop and test a set of subscales could enhance the applicability of the instrument for research and practice.