Cross-Cultural Reliability of an Arabic Version of the Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-Item Scale in Arab Patients with Diabetes mellitus.

Abstract

Arab nations have the second highest diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence in the world. There is a growing interest in self-management programs that emphasize patient's central role in managing type 2 DM. To validate an Arabic version of the Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-Item Scale (SEM6S) among Arab type 2 DM patients and to explore factors associated with self-efficacy measured with the SEM6S. Cross-sectional study on 302 Arab patients with T2DM of three different nationalities (Egyptian, Saudi, Kuwaiti).The SEM6S was translated using forward-backward method, and its reliability was determined by calculating Cronbach's alpha. A regression model was used to examine variables associated with self-efficacy in Arab patients with T2DM. Questionnaire was successfully translated without language or content-related problem. The mean age of participants was 47.71±14.7 years with equally represented sexes. The mean total score of the SEM6S was 5.99±1.86. The scale psychometric properties was reproducible (ICC=0.61-0.71) with good reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.79). Statistically significant increase in self-efficacy was observed in patients <30 years, uncomplicated DM, DM with hypertension, and in patients who had physical activity > 60min per day. Also, a bimodal increase in self-efficacy was detected in patients with DM<5 years and 10.1-15 years. After regression analysis, physical activity was significantly positively correlated with self-efficacy (β=0.8, P=0.01), and duration of diabetes was significantly negatively correlated with self-efficacy (β = -0.23, P=0.03). Arabic SEM6S is acceptable, reliable and repeatable metric for self-efficacy.