Table of Contents
Background:
A panoply of instruments measuring caregiver burden have been developed since Zarit, Reever, and Bach-Peterson’s (1980) pioneering study investigating carer strain using the Zarit Burden interview. Yet, a dearth of studies exist for parsing the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of the carer. McMillan (1996) designed a valid and reliable caregiver quality of life index to study such constructs in the partner of the patient. Later, Weitzner and colleagues (1999) modified this scale to serve as a well-being outcome measure specifically for carers of cancer patients.
Psychometrics:
The CQOLC possesses acceptable validity, test-retest reliability and internal consistency (see Weitzner, Jacobsen, Wagner, Friedland, & Cox, 1999).
Author of Tool:
M. A. Weitzner, P. B. Jacobsen, H. Wagner Jr., J. Friedland, C. Cox
Key references:
McMillan, S. C. (1996). Quality of life of primary caregivers of hospice patients with cancer. Cancer Pract;4:191-8.
Weitzner, M. A., Jacobsen, P. B., Wagner, H., Friedland, J., & Cox, C. (1999). The Caregiver Quality of Life Index–Cancer (CQOLC) Scale: development and validation of an instrument to measure quality of life of the family caregiver of patients with cancer. Quality of Life Research, 8, 55–63.
Zarit, S. H., Reever, K. E., Bach-Peterson, J. (1980). Relatives of the impaired elderly: correlates of feeling of burden. Gerontologist; 20:649 -55.
Primary use / Purpose:
The Caregiver Quality of Life Index- Cancer (CQOLC) scale is a 35-item cancer-specific instrument that assesses the career of a cancer patient’s quality of life, that is, some of the physical, social, emotional, and financial aspects of well-being, and functioning.
Other Information:
Scoring instructions: Highlighted items on questionnaire should be reversed scored.
Content of each item of the CQOLC
Alteration in daily routine
Disruption of sleep
Impact on daily schedule
Satisfaction with sexual functioning
Maintenance of outside activities
Financial strain
Concern about insurance
Economic future
Death of patient
Outlook on life
Level of stress
Spirituality
Day-to-day focus
Sadness
Mental strain
Social support
Guilt
Frustration
Nervousness
Impact of illness on family
Patient’s eating habits
Relationship with patient
Informed about illness
Transportation
Adverse effects of treatment
Responsibility for patient’s care
Focus of caregiving
Family communication
Change in priorities
Protection of patient
Deterioration of patient
Management of patient’s pain
Future outlook
Family support
Family interest in caregiving
Cite this article
mohammad looti (2026). The Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) scale. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/the-caregiver-quality-of-life-index-cancer-cqolc-scale/
mohammad looti. "The Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) scale." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 30 Mar. 2026, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/the-caregiver-quality-of-life-index-cancer-cqolc-scale/.
mohammad looti. "The Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) scale." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2026. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/the-caregiver-quality-of-life-index-cancer-cqolc-scale/.
mohammad looti (2026) 'The Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) scale', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/the-caregiver-quality-of-life-index-cancer-cqolc-scale/.
[1] mohammad looti, "The Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) scale," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, March, 2026.
mohammad looti. The Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) scale. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2026;vol(issue):pages.