Preliminary assessment of the psychometric properties of the abridged Arabic version of the Zarit Burden Interview among caregivers of cancer patients

Purpose: The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) is one of the most commonly used measures of caregiver burden. Although it has been translated into and validated in many languages, an Arabic version of the scale was lacking. This study examines the psychometric properties and factor structure of an abridged Arabic version of this measure-the ZBI-A-among caregivers of cancer patients. Methods: A total of 96 caregivers completed a questionnaire consisting of the ZBI-A, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the World Health Organization Well-Being Index and the Emotional Exhaustion subscale of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The ZBI-A was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Concurrent validity was also examined. Results: The EFA supported a two-factor structure identical to that of the original ZBI scale. Concurrent validity was supported by the ZBI-A's significant negative association with caregiver well-being and positive association with depression and emotional exhaustion. Conclusion: These findings suggest that this abridged Arabic version of the Zarit Burden Interview is appropriate for use for assessing caregiving burden.