The daily living self-efficacy scale: a new measure for assessing self-efficacy in stroke survivors

Abstract

Purpose: To develop and examine the psychometric properties of the Daily Living Self-Efficacy Scale (DLSES) designed to assess stroke survivors’ self-efficacy in daily functioning. Method: Two groups of participants (N = 424) were recruited, a stroke survivor group (n = 259) who were recruited through two stroke associations in Australia and a non-stroke group (n = 165) who were the partners/carers of the stroke survivors (n = 93) and members of the community in Queensland, Australia (n = 72). Principal Component Analyses (PCA) were used to assess the factor structure of the scale and investigations of internal consistency, test--retest reliability, convergent and discriminant validity were conducted. Results: The final measure is a 12-item scale comprising two subscales: self-efficacy for psychosocial functioning and self-efficacy for activities of daily living. The scale demonstrated high internal consistency, temporal stability and convergent validity, and it discriminated well between the stroke and non-stroke groups. Conclusion: The DLSES is a psychometrically sound measure of self-efficacy in psychosocial functioning and self-efficacy in activities of daily living appropriate for stroke survivors, regardless of level of physical impairment.Implications for RehabilitationA key factor that may influence outcome following a stroke is the level of self-efficacy that stroke survivors have in their ability to function in their daily life. The DLSES provides a measure of this ability that may be useful in enhancing preparation for the return to the community.The DLSES assesses self-efficacy in two important areas of daily functioning – activities of daily living and psychosocial functioning.This new measure can be administered to stroke individuals regardless of the nature or degree of physical impairment.