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Table 3 SCARED Frequency and Distress Scores

From: Caregiver exposure to critical events and distress in home-based palliative care in Germany a cross-sectional study using the Stressful Caregiving Adult Reactions to Experiences of Dying (SCARED) scale

SCARED Frequency and Distress scores (n = 103)

Never (frequency score = 0)

Once/Twice (frequency score = 1)

(%)

Weekly (frequency score = 2)

(%)

Daily (frequency score = 3)

(%)

Mean Fear score

(SD)

Mean Helplessness score

(SD)

severe pain/discomfort

3

24

(22.6)

37

(34.9)

40

(37.7)

1.15

(.70)

1.38

(.66)

unable to eat or swallow/choking

59

20

(18.9)

12

(11.3)

13

(12.3)

1.33

(.56)

1.20

(.76)

vomiting

56

27

(25.5)

18

(17.0)

3

(2.8)

1.19

(.70)

1.33

(.66)

dehydration

75

17

(16.0)

2

(1.9)

10

(9.4)

1.17

(.85)

.83

(.71)

insomnia

48

40

(37.7)

6

(5.7)

10

(9.4)

.66

(.67)

.71

(.76)

falling. Collapsing. passing-out

58

34

(32.1)

12

(11.3)

1.22

(.51)

1.30

(.66)

confusion. Delirium

49

23

(21.7)

24

(22.6)

8

(7.5)

1.44

(.66)

1.40

(.71)

other events

79

5

(4.7)

5

(4.7)

11

(10.4)

.33

(.48)

.67

(.86)

family caregiver felt patient “had enough”

47

37

(34.9)

17

(16.0)

3

(2.8)

1.68

(.47)

1.63

(.56)

family caregiver thought patient was dead

81

18

(17.0)

4

(3.8)

1.59

(.80)

1.45

(.86)

  1. Mean fear score (range 0–6): frequency of event × fear score (0 = not frightened, 1 = somewhat frightened, 2 = very frightened) among those who have a reported frequency > 0
  2. Mean helplessness score (range 0–6): frequency of event × helplessness score (0 = not helpless, 1 = somewhat helpless, 2 = very helpless) among those who have a reported frequency > 0