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The Short Demoralization Scale (SDS): A new tool to appraise demoralization in palliative care patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 January 2017

Laura Galiana ,
David Rudilla ,
Amparo Oliver  and
Pilar Barreto
Laura Galiana*
Affiliation:
Department of Methodology for the Behavioral Sciences, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
David Rudilla
Affiliation:
Home Care Unit of the Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Amparo Oliver
Affiliation:
Department of Methodology for the Behavioral Sciences, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Pilar Barreto
Affiliation:
Department of Assessment, Treatments, and Personality, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Laura Galiana, Department of Methodology for the Behavioral Sciences, University of Valencia, Avenida Blasco Ibañez 21, 46010 Valencia, Spain. E-mail: Laura.Galiana@uv.es.
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Abstract

Objective:

The Demoralization Scale (DS) is the most widely used measure for assessing demoralization. Following the recent clamor for brief assessment tools, and taking into account that demoralization has proved to be a symptom that needs to be controlled and treated in the palliative care setting, a shorter scale is needed. The aim of the present research is to introduce and evaluate the Short Demoralization Scale (SDS).

Method:

We employed a cross-sectional design that included a survey of 226 Spanish palliative care patients from the Hospital General Universitario de Valencia. We employed the SDS, the DS, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Results:

The confirmatory factor analysis supported the one-factor structure of the SDS (χ2(5) = 12.915; p = 0.024; CFI = 0.999; RMSEA = 0.084; CI95% = [0.028, 0.141]). The reliability was found to be appropriate, with a value of Cronbach's alpha (α) equal to 0.920. A cutoff criterion of 10 was established, which favored the interpretability of the instrument.

Significance of results:

The SDS corrects previous limitations, has a simple scoring system, is cost-effective, and is widely and fully available. In addition, our findings demonstrate that the SDS can be employed effectively in the clinical context.

Keywords

DemoralizationSymptom assessmentPalliative carePsychometric testingEnd of life
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 15 , Issue 5 , October 2017 , pp. 516 - 523
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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