Gharaibeh, B., Al-Smadi, A. M., & Boyle, D. (2017). Psychometric properties and characteristics of the Diabetes Self Management Scale. International journal of nursing sciences, 4(3), 252-259.?
Objective: Assessing diabetes self care management is essential for nursing care for diabetes. There is a
need to have valid and reliable scales that assess the actual performance of diabetes self management.
The purpose of this study was to revise and conduct psychometric testing and analysis of the Diabetes
Self Management Scale (DSMS).
Methods: A cross-sectional methodological design was used. A convenience sample was used and 78
adults with diabetes and taking insulin from five sites in the Midwest area of the U.S participated in the
study. Reliability analysis was done using Ferketich techniques to make decisions about whether any
given item should be retained or deleted.
Results: A descriptive analysis for the 60 items of the scale was conducted; several items had low
variability compared to the other items on the scale. The correlation matrices showed that a total of 20
items had poor item characteristics. These 20 items were deleted resulting in developing 40- item
version of the scale. The 40 - item scale had high level of internal consistency (Cronbach's a ? 0.947). The
validity testing of the 40 - item scale was guided by the Research Model for Diabetes Self Care Management;
results were congruent with the model and showed strong correlation with self efficacy,
moderate correlation with self care agency, and weak correlation with diabetes knowledge.
Conclusion: The items and the scale (DSMS) have undergone careful psychometric testing. The 40-item
DSMS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure diabetes self care management among people with
diabetes.