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The Use of the Burden Assessment Scale with Families of a Pediatric Population

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Abstract

The emotional, financial and social impact on caregivers of those with pediatric psychiatric, emotional and behavioral disorders has been poorly documented. This study sought to begin to remedy this by determining the utility of the Burden Assessment Scale (BAS) with this population. 300 parents seeking services within a major Canadian city were interviewed using the BAS and a follow up questionnaire on the clarity, comprehensiveness and acceptability of the BAS. The BAS was clear, acceptable and comprehensive for >80 % of participants. Factor analysis revealed four factors compared to the original five factors found with adults. The BAS had a utility with this population and would be a valuable addition to standard information gathered but use of the total score only is recommended.

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Notes

  1. Each item on the BAS can be scored 0–3 or 1–4. The reported mean in this study has been adjusted to the 0–3 format to maintain the metric with the original study.

  2. University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine, Office of Medical Bioethics, Heritage Medical Research Building/Rm 93, 3330 Hospital Drive N.W. Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N1 Telephone: (403) 220-7990, Fax: (403) 283-8524.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. We particularly want to acknowledge tireless and excellent work of the research assistant on this project Natasha Wosnock.

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Author notes

  1. Douglas D. Murdoch

    Present address: Department of Psychology, Mount Royal University, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary, AB, T3E 6K6, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Program, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Douglas D. Murdoch, Abdul Rahman, Valerie Barsky & Stephen Maunula

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Douglas D. Murdoch

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Abdul Rahman

  4. Child and Adolescent Addictions and Mental Health and Psychiatry Program, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada

    David Cawthorpe

  5. Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Psychiatry, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada

    David Cawthorpe

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  1. Douglas D. Murdoch
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Correspondence to Douglas D. Murdoch.

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Murdoch, D.D., Rahman, A., Barsky, V. et al. The Use of the Burden Assessment Scale with Families of a Pediatric Population. Community Ment Health J 50, 703–710 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9724-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9724-9

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