The Geriatric Feelings of Burdensomeness Scale (GFBS)

Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Geriatric Feelings of Burdensomeness Scale (T-GFBS) in Turkish community-dwelling older adults

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Geriatric Feelings of Burdensomeness Scale (T-GFBS) in Turkish community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

This study included 300 community-dwelling older adults. Data were collected face-to-face between October 2023 and January 2024. The psychometric properties of the T-GFBS were evaluated using internal consistency, factor analysis, and test-retest reliability.

RESULTS

The confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good model fit (χ2/df = 2.360, RMSEA = 0.06, CFI = 0.93, GFI = 0.87, IFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.92). The scale revealed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.953) and acceptable test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.998). The single-factor structure of the T-GFBS with 25 items was consistent with the original version.

CONCLUSIONS

The T-GFBS is an easy-to-understand, comprehensive, reliable, and valid tool for assessing the feelings of burdensomeness in Turkish older adults.

Older Korean Americans' Perceived Burdensomeness to Their Healthcare Partners: An Egocentric Network Assessment

Objectives: The objective is to examine how older Korean Americans' perceived burdensomeness to their healthcare partners is associated with the characteristics of older adult participants (egos) and their healthcare partners (alters). Methods:Surveys of 2150 participants in the Study of Older Korean Americans provided ego data. Participants were also asked to list up to three individuals whom they usually asked for help on health-related matters or healthcare use, which generated 3402 alters. Multilevel modeling was conducted to examine the role of the characteristics of egos and alters, as well as their cross-level interactions. Results: Perceived burdensomeness was negatively associated with English-speaking ability and residence in a low Korean density area. Perceived burden was also lowered when emotional support was received from the alters, and this pattern was pronounced among those with multi-comorbidity. Discussion: By identifying older immigrants prone to the sense of burdensomeness, the study suggests strategies to promote their health and healthcare use.

Problem-solving training for Veterans in home based primary care: an evaluation of intervention effectiveness

BACKGROUND

Veterans enrolled in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Home Based Primary Care (HBPC), a program providing in-home medical and mental health care by an interdisciplinary care team, often face substantial physical, cognitive, and mental health challenges. This program evaluation examined the impact of a brief problem-solving intervention on depressive symptoms, quality of life, and problem-solving abilities for Veterans enrolled in HBPC.

DESIGN

Pre- and post-intervention outcomes for Veterans, and qualitative feedback from Veterans and clinicians regarding program satisfaction.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

A total of 230 HBPC patients (mean age in years = 72.1, SD = 11.6) within the U.S. national VHA health care system.

INTERVENTION

Six-session, individual Problem-Solving Training (PST-HBPC).

METHOD

Licensed psychologists and social workers (n = 115) completed training and administered the treatment with HBPC Veterans between 2014 and 2017.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

From baseline to post-intervention, Veterans completing five or more PST-HBPC sessions (n = 199) reported significant reductions in depressive symptoms on the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9), in difficulty functioning due to depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 item 10), and in thoughts of death (PHQ-9 item 9). They also reported more effective problem-solving on the Social Problem-Solving Inventory - Revised: Short form (total score and subscales), and improved quality of life across life domains on the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) scale. Both clinicians and Veterans also reported satisfaction with the program.

CONCLUSIONS

Preliminary findings support the continued dissemination and implementation of this brief PST intervention for HBPC Veterans, and its potential for use with non-VA home care populations with complex comorbidities.