Development and Validation of the Brief Support Group Leader Self-Efficacy Scale Among Scleroderma Peer Support Group...

Area of Science:

• Psychometrics
• Health Psychology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Self-efficacy is crucial for support group leaders.
• The full 32-item Support Group Leader Self-efficacy Scale (SGLSS) is comprehensive but lengthy.
• A shorter version is needed for efficient assessment in systemic sclerosis (SSc) support groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a brief Support Group Leader Self-efficacy Scale (Brief-SGLSS).
• To ensure the Brief-SGLSS retains the core content and measurement properties of the full SGLSS.
• To provide a more feasible self-efficacy assessment tool for SSc support group leaders.

Main Methods:

• A Delphi process and item analysis were used with researcher and patient input.
• Data from the SPIN-SSLED trial informed item selection.
• Convergent validity and trial change data were compared between the Brief-SGLSS and full SGLSS.

Main Results:

• A 6-item Brief-SGLSS was selected based on statistical and content considerations.
• The Brief-SGLSS demonstrated a high correlation (0.96) with the full SGLSS.
• Both scales showed similar convergent validity and responsiveness to change in the SPIN-SSLED trial.

Conclusions:

• The 6-item Brief-SGLSS is a shorter, more feasible alternative to the full SGLSS.
• The Brief-SGLSS maintains comparable measurement properties to the original scale.
• This brief scale facilitates efficient evaluation of self-efficacy among SSc support group leaders.