Zarit Burden Interview
Pronunciation: ZAH-rit
A validated 22-item self-report questionnaire used to measure the subjective burden experienced by informal caregivers of older adults with chronic illness or dementia.
Full Definition
The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) was developed by Steven Zarit and colleagues in the 1980s and remains one of the most widely used instruments for quantifying carer burden in geriatric settings. Items assess the impact of caregiving on the carer's health, social life, finances, and emotional wellbeing, producing a total score from 0 to 88. A shorter 12-item version (ZBI-12) is also validated and commonly used in clinical practice. Editors should always capitalise the full instrument name and expand ZBI on first use. The ZBI assesses the caregiver's perspective only and should not be confused with tools measuring the patient's functional status. Its results directly inform geriatric rehabilitation discharge planning and community service referrals.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalise as a proper instrument name. Distinguish ZBI (22-item) from ZBI-12 (12-item short form). ZBI measures caregiver experience, not patient function.
In Context
- "A Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) score of 52 indicated severe burden, prompting referral to the carer support service." — Social work assessment
- "The short-form ZBI-12 was administered at discharge to assess the primary carer's readiness to resume home care responsibilities." — Geriatric rehabilitation discharge report