The Psychometric Assessment of the Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale in Iranian Patients with Chronic Diseases

BACKGROUND: To provide better health care to chronic patients, the use of valid and reliable tools is necessary. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale (CDSES). METHODS: In the objective of the present methodological study 401 patients with chronic disease including renal and cardiac disease, diabetes and hypertension were selected by convenience sampling from three hospitals in Mazandaran province in Iran and filled out the CDSES. The 33-item CDSES has three dimensions. The face, content, construct, convergent and discriminant validities of the scale were assessed. Reliability was determined by internal consistency and construct reliability. RESULTS: Based on exploratory factor analysis, a five-factor solution was selected, explaining 55.03% of the total variance. By confirmatory factor analysis, the five-factor solution and the second-order latent factor model were supported. The convergent and discriminant validities of all the factors were acceptable. The reliability of CDSES exceeded α>0.7. CONCLUSION: The present study results showed that the five-factor construct of CDSES had a suitable validity and reliability; thus, the Persian version of this scale can be used in assessing self-efficacy in chronic patients.