title: Reliability and validity of diabetes specific Health Beliefs Model scales in patients with diabetes and serious mental illness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study we evaluate the reliability and validity of existing Health Beliefs Model (HBM) scales developed to assess HBM domains in a population of patients with both diabetes and serious mental illness (SMI). While diabetes medication adherence has frequently been evaluated through the lens of the HBM, it is unclear if developed scales are reliable and valid in patients with SMI.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed 152 veterans with diabetes and SMI. Domains of the HBM assessed included perceived benefits, side effects and barriers to diabetes medication taking, perceived susceptibility to and severity of diabetes, diabetes self-efficacy, diabetes locus of control, and perceived diabetes control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBM scales showed good internal reliability within a SMI population, with Cronbach alphas ranging between 0.73 and 0.86 for all scales assessed except one. HBM scales also showed associations with self reported diabetes medication adherences in six of the ten domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scales assessing diabetes specific domains of the HBM exhibit both reliability and validity in patients with both diabetes and SMI.
authors.affiliation: Philadelphia VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology