Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Caregiver Guilt Questionnaire in family caregivers of cancer patients

• Published in: Journal of Education and Health Promotion
• Main Authors: Neda Asadi, Sedigheh Khodabandeh Shahraki, Mahya Torkaman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-09-01
• Subjects: cancer; caregiver guilt questionnaire; confirmatory factor analysis; family caregivers; psychometric; reliability; validity
• Online Access: https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jehp.jehp_174_25
• ISSN: 2277-9531; 2319-6440

Background: The chronic and debilitating nature of cancer often necessitates home-based care, which can significantly affect the health of caregivers and their families overtime. This study aimed to assess psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Caregiver Guilt Questionnaire (CGQ) in family caregivers of cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional and methodological research included 208 family care caregivers of cancer patients in southeastern Iran, recruited in 2023 via convenience sampling. This tool consists of a 22-item self-report measure rated on a 5-point Likert scale. The questionnaire’s reliability was evaluated using a test–-retest method after 1414 day days and internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha. Additionally, its psychometric properties, including face validity, content and construct validity, convergent validity, and floor/ceiling effects, were examined. Results: To assess the face validity of the Persian version of the instrument, 20 healthcare providers of cancer patients were consulted. They were asked to evaluate the clarity, comprehensibility, and understandability of the questionnaire items. The content validity index was 0.93. Factor analysis confirmed 22 items with high and significant factor loadings, question 12 being the most important predictor of caregiver guilt (a factor loading of 0.79 and a t-value of 12.14). The questionnaire demonstrated a moderate convergent validity with the Professional Quality of Life Scale (r =0.65). Test–-retest reliability, assessed using the iIntraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), was 0.94. The scale exhibited excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.97. No floor or ceiling effects were found for the scale. Conclusion: The Persian version of the CGQ demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties and can be used as a valid tool to investigate guilt in family caregivers of cancer patients.