Validation of a structured interview for the assessment of diabetes self-management.
OBJECTIVE
The authors developed and validated a semi-structured interview; the Diabetes Self-Management Profile (DSMP), to measure self-management of type 1 diabetes. The DSMP includes the following regimen components: exercise, management of hypoglycemia, diet, blood glucose testing, and insulin administration and dose adjustment.


METHODS
Families of youths with type 1 diabetes (n = 105) who were entering a controlled trial of intensive therapy (IT) versus usual care (UC) were administered the DSMP Analyses assessed the reliability and validity of the DSMP, including its associations with HbA1c and quality of life.


RESULTS
The DSMP total score has adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.76), 3-month test-retest reliability (Pearson correlation, r = 0.67), inter-interviewer agreement (r = 0.94), and parent-adolescent agreement (r = 0.61). DSMP total scores (r = -0.28) and 3 subscales correlated significantly with HbA1c (diet [r = -0.27], blood glucose testing [r = -0.37], and insulin administration and dose adjustment [r = -0.25 ]). Adolescents' reports of self-management did not differ from parental reports. Higher DSMP scores were associated with more favorable quality of life for mothers and youths.


CONCLUSIONS
The DSMP is a convenient measure that yields a reliable and valid assessment of diabetes self-management. Compared with extant similar measures, the DSMP is more strongly correlated with HbA1c.
Harris
M A
MA
Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. harris_ma@kids.wustl.edu
Wysocki
T
T
Sadler
M
M
Wilkinson
K
K
Harvey
L M
LM
Buckloh
L M
LM
Mauras
N
N
White
N H
NH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003927:Diet, Diabetic; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012648:Self Care
D007328:Insulin