title: Instrument for assessing mobile technology acceptability in diabetes self-management: a validation and reliability study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nowadays, mobile technologies are part of everyday life, but the lack of instruments to assess their acceptability for the management of chronic diseases makes their actual adoption for this purpose slow.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to develop a survey instrument for assessing patients' attitude toward and intention to use mobile technology for diabetes mellitus (DM) self-management, as well as to identify sociodemographic characteristics and quality of life factors that affect them.
  
  
  METHODS
  We first conducted the documentation and instrument design phases, which were subsequently followed by the pilot study and instrument validation. Afterward, the instrument was administered 103 patients (median age: 37 years; range: 18-65 years) diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 DM, who accepted to participate in the study. The reliability and construct validity were assessed by computing Cronbach's alpha and using factor analysis, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The instrument included statements about the actual use of electronic devices for DM management, interaction between patient and physician, attitude toward using mobile technology, and quality of life evaluation. Cronbach's alpha was 0.9 for attitude toward using mobile technology and 0.97 for attitude toward using mobile device applications for DM self-management. Younger patients (Spearman'sρ=-0.429;P<0.001) with better glycemic control (Spearman'sρ=-0.322;P<0.001) and higher education level (Kendall'sτ=0.51;P<0.001) had significantly more favorable attitude toward using mobile assistive applications for DM control. Moreover, patients with a higher quality of life presented a significantly more positive attitude toward using modern technology (Spearman'sρ=0.466;P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The instrument showed good reliability and internal consistency, making it suitable for measuring the acceptability of mobile technology for DM self-management. Additionally, we found that even if most of the patients showed positive attitude toward mobile applications, only a moderate level of intention to indeed use them was observed. Moreover, the study indicated that barriers were truthfulness and easiness to use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Sciences, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara.
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frandes
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Polytechnic University of Timisoara.
authors.forename: Anca V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Deiac
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Sciences, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara; Third Medical Clinic, Emergency Hospital of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Timar
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Sciences, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara; Department of Mathematics, Polytechnic University of Timisoara.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lungeanu
keywords: Internet; diabetes; disease management; mHealth; mobile health; mobile technology; quality of life