Reliability and validity analysis of Chinese version of rheumatoid arthritis self-efficacy scale

Objective To translate and revise the form of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) self-efficacy scale (RASE), and evaluate the revised scale. Methods Totally 101 patients with RA in one hospital were selected for investigation. Through the translation-back to the source scale and the cultural adjustment, the Chinese version of RASE (C-RASE) was formed. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to acquire the construct validity while the Pearson correlation analysis was used to obtain the test-retest reliability. Results Factor analysis was carried out on 28 items, and the loading was 0.496, 0.490, 0.482 and 0.493 of item 5, and item 15 on two factors respectively. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted secondarily after deleting items of 5, 15, and 17, considering the item contents, and 9 factors were extracted, respectively named for exercise, comprehensive treatment, relaxation, activity, sleep, social relationship, fatigue, cognition and active planning, which could explain 68.36% of total variation; and the correlation coefficient between each dimension and total table ranged 0.344 to 0.679 (P<0.01); The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the C-RASE was 0.751, and the retest reliability was 0.731.After deleting their own items,the Cronbach's alpha value range was 0.730 to 0.756. Conclusion C-RASE has sound reliability and validity and could provides a measurement of the self-efficacy among rheumatoid arthritis patients. Key words: Rheumatoid arthritis; Self-efficacy; Reliability; Validity