Response options for each of these items were as follows: (a) 0 = no, not experienced; (b) 1 = yes, but not stressful; (c) 2 = yes, moderately stressful; and (d) 3 = yes, very stressful.
It asks mothers if any of the events occurred since the birth of the child and to indicate the impact on a five point Likert scale: (1) yes, and affected me a lot; (2) yes, moderately affected; (3) yes, mildly affected; (4) yes, but did not affect me, and (5) no, did not happen at all.
The scores on the BDQ have a possible range of 0 22 with each of 11 items scored 0,1,2 for the descriptors 'No, not at all', 'Yes, sometimes or a little', 'Yes, moderately or definitely'.
The widow's perception of the patient's distress was measured with the following formulations: 'Did you observe if pain/anxiety/depression affected your partner's well-being during his last 3 months of life?,' to which there were four possible answers: 'No, not at all', 'Yes, a little', 'Yes, moderately', and 'Yes, a lot'.
They are asked if any of them have occurred since the birth of their child and indicate how much effect it has had on a five point Likert scale ((1) Yes and affected me a lot; 2) Yes, moderately affected; 3) Yes, mildly affected; 4) Yes, but did not affect me and 5) No, did not happen at all).
