Validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the validity based on the internal structure and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) applied to informal caregivers of dependent elderly. Method: A methodological study with 120 informal caregivers of the elderly. Validity based on the internal structure evaluated by exploratory factorial analysis, with extraction of main factorial axes, varimax orthogonal rotation and retention of factors by parallel analysis. Reliability assessed by Cronbach’s alpha. Results: The instrument revealed a factorial structure different from the original version: three factors were identified, equivalent to subscales, self-esteem, daily activities and family support, with explained variance of 42%. The values of the Cronbach alpha for the items belonging to each subscale were, respectively: 0.71, 0.81 and 0.83. Conclusion: The Brazilian version of CRA presents good evidence of validity based on internal structure and is reliable, and can be used to assess the overload of informal caregivers of dependent elderly.