The Arabic version of Diabetes-39: psychometric properties and validation.

Objective: To translate Diabetes-39 (D-39) into Arabic language and assess its psychometric properties among patients with type 2 diabetes in Jordan.

Methods: A sample of 368 subjects (162 men and 206 women) was randomly selected from patients with type 2 diabetes attending outpatient clinics in King Abdullah University Hospital (KAUH). D-39 was translated using backward forward translation method. Individual D-39 items were recoded, summed and transformed to a 0 to 100-scale. Acceptability, item level validity, scale level validity and reliability were evaluated.

Results: The mean (SD) of D-39 subscales ranged from 26.9 (22.4) for 'Social burden' to 50.5 (21.1) for 'Energy and Mobility'. Inter item correlations within each scale were moderate to strong. All item-scale correlations exceeded the minimum correlation of 0.40 for adequate item internal consistency. Item discriminat validity was demonstrated since items correlated higher with their own scale than with other scales. For all scales, Cronbach's alpha coefficient exceeded the minimum criterion of 0.7.

Conclusions: Arabic version of D-39 is a reliable and valid instrument to measure quality of life among patients with diabetes in Jordan.