Development and validation of the Lifestyle Self-Efficacy Scale for Latinos with Diabetes (LSESLD)

OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a self-efficacy measure of diabetes self-management, the Lifestyle Self-Efficacy Scale for Latinos with Diabetes (LSESLD), designed for low-income, Spanish-speaking Latinos with diabetes. DESIGN: Quantitative and qualitative methods. SETTING: Community health centers in central and western Massachusetts. PARTICIPANTS: Low-income Latinos (N = 252) enrolled in a randomized diabetes self-management intervention trial. MEASURES: Construct validity, internal consistency, sensitivity to change over time. RESULTS: The LSESLD demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .85), reasonable construct validity (moderate, significant associations between the LSESLD and validated measures of diabetes knowledge, dietary intake, physical activity, blood glucose self-monitoring, and HbA1c values), and sensitivity to intervention-related changes over time. CONCLUSION: The LSESLD is a reliable and valid research instrument assessing self-efficacy related to diabetes self-management among low-income, Spanish-speaking populations.