A psychometric evaluation of the Diabetes Symptom Checklist-Revised (DSC-R) cognitive distress, fatigue, hyperglycemia, and hypoglycemia subscales in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the use of Diabetes Symptom Checklist-Revised (DSC-R) Cognitive Distress, Fatigue, Hyperglycemia, and Hypoglycemia subscales as measures of acute diabetes-associated symptoms in patients with both type 1 and 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Our study was conducted in context of two international, multicenter, randomized clinical trials for inhaled insulin. Confirmatory factor analyses and assessments of reliability and construct validity were performed.

RESULTS

Study participants were 371 patients with type 2 (56% male; mean age, 57 years) and 481 with type 1 diabetes (57% male, mean age, 40 years). In both populations a four-factor model was the best fit. Cronbach's α ≥ 0.79 and intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ 0.63; subscales correlated (P ≤ 0.05) with measures of well-being and satisfaction (0.12 ≤ r ≤ 0.71). In patients with type 1 diabetes, three subscales correlated (P < 0.05) with A1C.

CONCLUSIONS

The psychometric properties of the DSC-R Cognitive Distress, Fatigue, Hyperglycemia, and Hypoglycemia suggest they may be utilized in clinical trials as reliable and valid measures of acute symptoms of diabetes.