Development and validation of a self-management scale of type 1 diabetes for Chinese adults

OBJECTIVE: Self-management is beneficial for improving health outcomes in adults with type 1 diabetes. However, there are no validated instruments to assess self-management in Chinese adults with type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Self-Management of Type 1 Diabetes for Chinese Adults (SMOD-CA) scale. METHODS: Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to develop the SMOD-CA. We conducted a literature review and semi-structured interviews to generate an initial item pool. An expert panel examined the content validity. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to evaluate scale reliability and validity. A total of 243 participants were recruited. Exploratory factor analyses were used to test the construct validity, and internal consistency and test-retest reliability were assessed. RESULTS: The expert panel determined that the SMOD-CA content validity index was satisfactory. The final 30-item scale consisted of four factors explaining 49.50% of the total variance in the data. Cronbach’s α was 0.901 for the total scale and 0.911 for test–retest reliability. CONCLUSIONS: The SMOD-CA demonstrated good reliability and validity. The scale is a credible and effective instrument that can be used by social workers and health care professionals to assess self-management in Chinese adults with type 1 diabetes. Trial registration number NCT03610984