Validation of the “Hypoglycemia Fear Survey for Parents” in Spanish for the detection of fear of hypoglycemia in parents of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Introduction

Fear of hypoglycemia (FoH) in parents of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has been described as a barrier that affects the achievement of therapeutic goals and adherence to treatment. Objective: validating the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey for Parents (HFS-P) in Spanish and assessing the relationship between scores and various clinical variables.

Methods

We conducted a psychometric analysis of the instrument, evaluating its feasibility, internal consistency, validity and reliability in the intended setting and population.

Results

The sample included a total of 149 participants (71.8% mothers). The mean age of the children was 9.9 years (SD, 3.2), with a mean duration of T1DM duration of 3.9 years (SD, 3.5) and a mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of 7.9% (SD, 1.9). Of all participants, 87.9% reported the use of new technologies for glucose monitoring. The adapted questionnaire consists of 20 items grouped into three dimensions. The Cronbach α for the total scale was 0.92. The HFS-P was significantly correlated to a general worry scale (ρ = 0.47; P < .001). The test-retest reliability analysis showed a strong positive correlation (ρ = 0.84; P < .001). Variables such as family history of T1DM, caregiver educational level, HbA1c level and use of a glucose monitoring system were significantly associated with HFS-P scores.

Conclusion

The Spanish version of the HFS-P is a valid and reliable tool that may assist health care professionals in identifying parental FoH and guide the development of interventions aimed at improving disease management in children.