Abstract
Purpose
Informal care provided by family and friends of patients with chronic illness, such as cancer, makes an invaluable contribution
to the medical system and to society, yet it also imposes challenges that result in increased morbidity and mortality of the
caregivers. Researchers studying this topic confront major difficulties in acquiring information about caregivers’ morbidity
from medical records, a procedure that is costly and time consuming.
to the medical system and to society, yet it also imposes challenges that result in increased morbidity and mortality of the
caregivers. Researchers studying this topic confront major difficulties in acquiring information about caregivers’ morbidity
from medical records, a procedure that is costly and time consuming.
Results
The validity of the MICCI was supported by evidence that self-reports of the majority of morbidities were related to well-known
demographic correlates of such morbidities, such as older age and being male, and that overall scores are related to widely
used indicators of health status of medical populations as measured by the MOS SF. Caregivers reported an average of 4.5 morbid
conditions. A higher number of morbidities were predicted by caregivers’ poorer physical and mental health scores on the MOS.
demographic correlates of such morbidities, such as older age and being male, and that overall scores are related to widely
used indicators of health status of medical populations as measured by the MOS SF. Caregivers reported an average of 4.5 morbid
conditions. A higher number of morbidities were predicted by caregivers’ poorer physical and mental health scores on the MOS.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s11136-012-0255-y
- Authors
- Youngmee Kim, Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
- Charles S. Carver, Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
- Rachel S. Cannady, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Kelly M. Shaffer, Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
- Journal Quality of Life Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2649
- Print ISSN 0962-9343