The validity and reliability of the Diabetic Foot Scale-Short Form (DFS-SF) in the Turkish population: a...

Area of Science:

• Diabetology
• Quality of Life Research
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) significantly impair quality of life, leading to extended hospital stays, workforce loss, disabilities, psychological distress, and increased healthcare expenses.
• Assessing the quality of life in DFU patients is crucial for effective management and intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Diabetic Foot Scale-Short Form (DFS-SF) for Turkish-speaking patients diagnosed with diabetic foot ulcers.
• To provide a culturally adapted and psychometrically sound instrument for use in the Turkish healthcare setting.

Main Methods:

• A methodological study involving 174 Turkish DFU patients from March to December 2020.
• Language equivalence was ensured through translation-back translation, followed by expert review for content validity.
• Construct validity was assessed using confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses, known-group validity, and criterion validity via correlation with the SF-36. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's alpha.

Main Results:

• The Turkish DFS-SF demonstrated a high content validity index (0.93) and excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.93–0.97).
• Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a stable six-factor structure with factor loadings ranging from 0.52 to 0.86, indicating good model fit.
• Strong correlations (r = 0.43–0.76, p < 0.001) and supportive known-group comparisons validated the construct and criterion validity of the scale.

Conclusions:

• The Turkish version of the Diabetic Foot Scale-Short Form (DFS-SF) is a psychometrically sound and reliable instrument.
• This validated scale can be effectively utilized to measure and monitor the quality of life in Turkish-speaking individuals affected by diabetic foot ulcers.