Assessing the impact of parental mental health on child physical health: validation of a measure of carer burden within carers of children with chronic kidney disease

Section A provides an overview of the literature investigating the relationship between parental mental health and child physical health within populations of children with chronic childhood illness. Evidence for whether this relationship definitively exists, as well as the potential pathways through which this relationship could operate, is evaluated. Carers of children with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) can experience burden and psychological distress, which has been shown to impact on the child's physical health.
Section B is an empirical study aiming to assess the validity and reliability of the Paediatric Renal Carer Burden Scale (PR-CBS) , a 51 item psychometric measure designed to assess carer burden in carers of children with CKD. Factor analysis indicated retention of 21 items representing 5 factors; Illness worries (8 items), Impact on self (5 items), Impact on child (3 items), Responsibility (3 items) and Institutional burden (2 items). Together they explain 53% of the total variance. Internal reliability for both the full scale and sub-scales were acceptable. Convergent validity was demonstrated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Caregiver Strain Questionnaire and the scale was reported by respondents as being acceptable to complete. The PR-CBS has been shown to be a valid and reliable scale and as such is a clinically relevant tool with which to identify burdened carers and provide additional psycho-social support so as to ensure best outcomes for both carer and child.
Section C provides a critical evaluation of the research process and reflections from the researcher on learning throughout the process of the study as well as clinical implications and future research directions.