Evaluating the Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Version of the Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale-Revised (ASAS-R) Among Arabic Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Abstract

Background: Self-care agency is crucial for the management of diabetes patients. The Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale-Revised (ASAS-R) is a reliable and brief measure of diabetic patients' SCA. In the MENA region, there is currently no Arabic version of the ASAS-R scale available.

Aim: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the ASAS-R among Arabic patients with DM.

Methods: This study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design. Exploratory factor analysis was used to test the scale's construct validity. Pearson correlation was used to test for its criterion-related and convergent validity.

Results: Participants' ASAS-R total scores significantly correlated with diabetes self-efficacy (r = 0.543, p ≤ 0.001) and diabetes self-care management (r = 0.566, p ≤ 0.001) but did not correlate with their demographics. Factor analysis revealed a 2-factor solution that retained all items and explained a variance of 46.3%. Cronbach's alpha was 0.775 for the total scale and 0.691-0.851 for subscales indicating a high internal consistency. Also, no item redundancy was noted with the maximum interitem correlation of 0.695.

Conclusion: The ASAS-R was found to be a psychometrically sound measure to evaluate self-care agency among Arabic patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus, for which future studies interested in self-care among patients with diabetes are invited to use the ASAS-R to validate its psychometric properties.