caregiverreport

Caregiver report, in medical and gerontological contexts, refers to information provided by a caregiver about a care recipient's health status, functioning, symptoms, and daily needs. It encompasses informal caregivers such as family members and friends as well as professional caregivers who observe the recipient over time. Caregiver reports can complement self-reports from patients and clinician assessments, particularly when the patient has communication difficulties or cognitive impairment.

Caregivers typically report data on physical symptoms (pain, fatigue), daily living activities (mobility, dressing, bathing), mood and behavior, cognitive changes, safety risks, treatment adherence, and utilization of health services. They may also provide assessments of caregiver burden, stress, and the overall caregiving impact. Data collection occurs through structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, caregiver diaries, or digital monitoring tools.

Validity concerns include caregiver bias related to emotional state, stress, or relationship to the recipient. Cognitive decline, burnout, or distress may color reporting. Therefore, caregiver reports are often used alongside patient-reported outcomes and clinician observations to triangulate a more reliable picture. Validation studies and culturally appropriate instruments help improve reliability.

Applications include clinical trials and outcome research where caregiver-reported outcomes reflect treatment effects on daily functioning and caregiver well-being, as well as care planning in clinics and long-term care settings. Ethical considerations emphasize consent, privacy, and minimizing caregiver burden. Limitations include incomplete knowledge of the recipient's internal state and potential discrepancies with patient self-report.