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Development and validation of the Infertility Self-Efficacy scale
Tara M Cousineau1, Traci C Green, Evelyn A Corsini
1Inflexxion, Newton, Massachusetts 02464, USA. tcousineau@inflexxion.com
Fertility and Sterility
|May 9, 2006
Summary
A new Infertility Self-Efficacy (ISE) scale was developed and validated to measure confidence in managing infertility treatment. This 16-item scale helps assess patients' ability to cope with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of treatment.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Psychometrics
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Infertility affects millions globally, necessitating effective coping strategies.
- Self-efficacy is crucial for navigating the complexities of infertility treatment.
- Existing measures may not fully capture self-efficacy specific to infertility treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a robust scale measuring perceived self-efficacy in individuals undergoing infertility treatment.
- To create a tool that assesses cognitive, emotional, and behavioral skills relevant to managing infertility.
Main Methods:
- Scale items generated with reproductive health experts.
- Principal components analysis identified underlying factors.
- Test-retest reliability and construct validity assessed with 213 infertility patients.
- Expert acceptability evaluated by reproductive health professionals.
Main Results:
- A 16-item Infertility Self-Efficacy (ISE) scale was developed.
- The scale measures perceived ability in cognitive, emotional, and behavioral skills for infertility treatment.
- Results indicated good convergent and discriminant validity, with a single "cognitive/affect regulation" component.
Conclusions:
- The ISE scale is a reliable and valid measure of self-confidence during infertility treatment.
- The ISE can be utilized in clinical research and as a counseling tool.
- Assessing self-efficacy with the ISE can guide patients in actively managing their fertility journey.
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