Objective.

The aim of the study was design and validation of two scales to measure the conscience of burden and the need of professional support for an integrative (care patient-familiar- professional) both for formal and informal caregivers of patients with dementia.

Method.

Descriptive and correlational study for scale validation. After a literature review, preliminary items were formulated, that experts validated as adequate for content. Exploratory Factorial Analysis were done to determinate questionnaires structure (unweighted least squares extraction, oblimin rotation) and criterion validity by Pearson correlation with an external variable. Internal consistency by Cronbach alpha coefficient.

Results.

Of 372 answered questionnaires a total of 320 were valid. From them 85% (272) were women and 15% (48) men. Both scales (formal and informal) gave a structure with two factors named as Burden and Professional Support Needs. The first scale with 11 variables and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient .917 and the second scale with 9 variables and Cronbach’s alpha of .802.

Conclusions.

The scales of Burden and Professional Support Needs for formal and informal caregivers” showed to be reliable and valid scales, showing a model good fit to data.

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