The Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease Scale – French version: A validation study in primary care

Abstract

Rationale and objectiveThe evaluation of patient self-efficacy for managing chronic diseases is important in self-management education programs. A valid instrument to evaluate self-efficacy exists: the Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-Item Scale (SEM-CD). The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of a French version of the instrument (SEM-CD Fv) in a primary health care context.MethodThe French translation of the questionnaire was obtained through a rigorous translation-back-translation process. Cronbach’s alpha, test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient, ICC), concurrent validity with the Skill and Technique Acquisition domain of the Health Education Impact Questionnaire (Heiq) and exploratory factor analysis were used to assess the psychometric properties of the SEM-CD Fv.ResultsWe analysed data from 326 primary care patients. The Cronbach alpha of the instrument was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.92 – 0.94). The ICC between the two administrations of the questionnaire (two-week interval) was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.69 – 0.90, p < 0.001). Concurrent validity of the SEM-CD Fv with the Skill and Technique Acquisition domain of the HeiQ showed a correlation coefficient of 0.49 (95% CI: 0.40 – 0.58, p < 0.001). Factor analysis for the SEM-CD Fv resulted in a one-factor solution that explained 73.8% of the variance.ConclusionThe SEM-CD Fv is a valid and reliable instrument to measure self-efficacy for managing chronic diseases in primary care patients.