Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Diabetes Coping Measure scale.

Purpose: To evaluate the psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the Diabetes Coping Measure scale (DCM-C).

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 205 people with type 2 diabetes from the endocrine outpatient departments of three hospitals in Taiwan. Confirmatory factor analysis, criterion validity, and internal consistency reliability were conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the DCM-C.

Findings: Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a four-factor structure (chi(2)/df ratio = 1.351, good of fit index (GFI) = .904, comparitive fit index (CFI) = .902, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = .041). The DCM-C was significantly associated with hemoglobin A1c and diabetes self-care behaviors. Internal consistency reliability of the total DCM-C scale was .74. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for each subscale of the DCM-C ranged from .37 (tackling spirit) to .66 (diabetes integration).

Conclusions: The DCM-C demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity to determine the use of diabetes coping strategies. The tackling spirit dimension needs further refinement when applying this scale to Chinese populations with diabetes.

Clinical Relevance: Healthcare providers who treat Chinese people with diabetes can use the DCM-C to implement an early determination of diabetes coping strategies.