title: German Language Adaptation of the Headache Management Self-Efficacy Scale (HMSE-G) and Development of a New Short Form (HMSE-G-SF).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to develop and validate a German version of French and colleagues' Headache Management Self-efficacy Scale and to construct an abbreviated form for use in behavioral headache research. Furthermore, the contribution of headache-specific self-efficacy to pain-related disability in German chronic headache sufferers was examined.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Headache-specific self-efficacy refers to an individuals' confidence that they can engage in behaviors to either prevent headache episodes or to manage headache-related pain and disability. Self-efficacy beliefs have been shown repeatedly to be positively associated with psychological well-being, effective coping, and enhanced treatment outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional sample of 304 individuals diagnosed with either migraine, chronic tension-type headache, or a combination of 2 or more headache disorders completed the German Headache Management Self-efficacy Scale and questionnaires assessing headache activity, pain-related coping, general self-efficacy, depression, and anxiety. Responsiveness of the scale was analyzed in a longitudinal subsample of 32 inpatients undergoing headache treatment. Finally, a short form was constructed and evaluated regarding psychometric properties.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The German Headache Management Self-efficacy Scale showed good reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.87) as did the 6-item short form (Cronbach's α = 0.72). In the longitudinal sample, both versions showed a good ability to change over time (SRM= 0.52-1.16). Chronic headache patients with higher levels of self-efficacy reported lower levels of disability (r = -0.26 to -0.31). Multiple regression analyses revealed headache intensity and headache-specific self-efficacy as strongest predictors of headache-related disability (βself-efficacy  = -0.21, βintensity  = 0.26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the 25-item version and the 6-item version appear to be valid, reliable measures of self-efficacy beliefs. These scales will allow clinicians to identify headache sufferers with low levels of headache-specific self-efficacy with the goal of enhancing this expectancy for improvement. The new short form can help accomplish this goal without adding significantly to the burden of the self-report assessment batteries used in clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Graef
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rief
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Moncton, Moncton, Canada.
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: French
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, German Red Cross Pain Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nilges
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nestoriuc
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D035841:Behavioral Research; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006261:Headache / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012648:Self Care; D020377:Self Efficacy; D057566:Self Report; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Headache Management Self-efficacy Scale; headache-specific self-efficacy; pain-related disability