Table 3.

Minimally Important Differences for the Dementia Burden Scale – Caregiver (DBS-CG)

	DBS-CG Change Score Mean	DBS-CG Change Score Δa	p-value	Effect Size (d)b
Change in confidence to handle patient’s problems
Increase in self-efficacy	−0.1	3.87	0.01	0.23
Decrease/same in self-efficacy	3.8
Change in knowing where to turn to get answers about patient’s problems
Increase in self-efficacy	0.9	2.15	0.16	0.13
Decrease/same in self-efficacy	3.1
Change in confidence to deal with frustrations of caregiving
Increase in self-efficacy	−0.4	4.16	0.007	0.24
Decrease/same in self-efficacy	3.7
Change in Functional Ability
Decrease/same dependence	−1.40	4.62	0.005	0.27
Increase in dependence	3.22

^aThe DBS-CG change score Δ gives an estimate of the minimally important difference.

^bEffect sizes were calculated as DBS-CG change score Δ/a pooled SD of 17.2.

Note: Conventions for effect size are small = 0.20 ≤ d < 0.50; medium = 0.50 ≤ d < 0.80; large = d ≥ 0.80