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A Method for Manipulating Blood Glucose and Measuring Resulting Changes in Cognitive Accessibility of Target Stimuli
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A Method for Manipulating Blood Glucose and Measuring Resulting Changes in Cognitive Accessibility of Target Stimuli

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Development of a new fear of hypoglycemia scale: preliminary results

Jodi L Kamps1, Michael C Roberts, R Enrique Varela

  • 1Children's Hospital of New Orleans, Department of Psychology, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, USA. jkamps21@yahoo.com

Journal of Pediatric Psychology
|March 24, 2005
PubMed

Insights

The Children's Hypoglycemia Index (CHI) reliably measures fear of hypoglycemia (FH) in children with type 1 diabetes. This new scale shows validity and has clinical and research applications for pediatric diabetes care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Psychometrics
  • Diabetes Management

Background:

  • Fear of hypoglycemia (FH) is a significant concern for children with type 1 diabetes.
  • Accurate measurement of FH is crucial for effective management and improved quality of life.
  • Existing measures may not fully capture the nuances of FH in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce and provide preliminary psychometric data for the Children's Hypoglycemia Index (CHI).
  • To establish the reliability and validity of the CHI as a tool for assessing FH in children.
  • To explore the relationship between past severe hypoglycemia and current fear levels.

Main Methods:

  • 109 children with type 1 diabetes completed the CHI, with 57 re-tested after 2 weeks.
  • Participants also completed the Children's Hypoglycemia Fear Survey (CHFS) and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS).
  • Hypoglycemia history was collected from both children and parents.

Main Results:

  • The CHI exhibited strong factor structure, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability.
  • Criterion-related validity was confirmed through comparison with established measures.
  • History of severe hypoglycemia predicted scores on specific CHI subscales.

Conclusions:

  • The CHI is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring fear of hypoglycemia in children.
  • This new scale offers significant clinical and research utility in pediatric diabetes care.
  • The CHI can aid in identifying children needing targeted interventions for hypoglycemia fear.
Abstract

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