title: Validity and reliability of the German version of the 9-item European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The promotion of self-care in patients with heart failure (HF) is a promising strategy for maintaining health and preventing exacerbation of HF and a continuous need for healthcare services. To assess patient self-care, valid and reliable instruments are needed, but there is no psychometrically tested instrument for use in a German HF population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the German version of the 9-item European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale (G9-EHFScBS). Construct validity including factor analysis and discriminant validity, concurrent validity, test-retest reliability and internal consistency were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The G9-EHFScBS was translated into German, and its validity and reliability were tested with 109 patients. The item-total correlation ranged from 0.09 to 0.63. Internal consistency was fair, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.71 (95%CI: 0.63 to 0.77). Test-retest reliability using an intra-class correlation coefficient showed substantial agreement for the entire scale (ICC: 0.69; 95%CI: 0.56 to 0.79). The G9-EHFScBS was able to distinguish patients with and without extra HF education at a statistically significant level (t = 2.105; p = 0.04). A factor analysis did not show the theoretical assumed dimensions of the scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The G9-EHFScBS is deemed a valid and reliable instrument to assess HF-specific self-care in a German HF population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology/Angiology, University Freiburg Medical Center, Germany. stefan.koeberich@uniklinik-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Köberich
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glattacker
authors.forename: Tiny
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jaarsma
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lohrmann
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dassen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005060:Europe; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D015438:Health Behavior; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012648:Self Care