Keywords

Anticipatory grief, Cancer, Caregiving, Child, Instrument development, Jordan, Marwit-Meuser Caregiver Inventory, Nursing, Parents

 

Authors

  1. Al-Gamal, Ekhlas BSc, MSc, RN
  2. Long, Tony BSc, MA, PhD, RN
  3. Livesley, Joan BSc, MA, RN

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to report on the development and field testing for validity and reliability of a modified version of the Marwit and Meuser Caregiver Inventory (MM-CGI) for the assessment of anticipatory grief among Jordanian parents of children with cancer (the MM-CGI Childhood Cancer). In 2006, a 50-item MM-CGI Childhood Cancer was administered to 140 Jordanian parents living with a child with cancer. The Cronbach [alpha] coefficient for the total instrument was .95, and Cronbach [alpha] coefficients for each of the 3 subscales was .91 for personal sacrifice burden, .90 for heartfelt sadness and longing, and .86 for worry and felt isolation. The construct validity of this instrument was supported by demonstrating a significant and positive correlation with the Anticipatory Grief Scale. The MM-CGI Childhood Cancer demonstrated strong convergent validity and excellent internal consistency reliability. However, further testing with a larger sample to facilitate factor analysis is needed to complete the validation process.