Beyond Pain Intensity: Development and Validation of the Multidimensional Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale (M-CPSES)

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Health Sciences
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Chronic pain affects millions globally, necessitating effective self-management strategies.
• Self-efficacy, the belief in one's ability to manage pain, is crucial for improving outcomes.
• Existing measures may not fully capture the multidimensional nature of chronic pain self-efficacy, particularly cognitive aspects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Multidimensional Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale (M-CPSES).
• To assess the psychometric properties of the M-CPSES in adults with chronic pain.
• To provide a brief, multidimensional tool for evaluating self-efficacy in chronic pain management.

Main Methods:

• An initial item pool was created based on established theories and expert/patient input.
• Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used to determine the scale's structure.
• Psychometric properties including reliability, validity, and known-groups validity were examined in a sample of 152 adults.

Main Results:

• CFA confirmed a robust nine-item, four-factor model (medical, daily life, emotional, cognitive domains) with good fit.
• The M-CPSES demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach's α=.84) and test-retest stability (ICC=.73).
• Correlations supported construct validity, showing expected associations with general self-efficacy, self-esteem, functioning, and psychological distress.

Conclusions:

• The M-CPSES is a reliable and valid multidimensional measure of chronic pain self-efficacy.
• It uniquely incorporates the cognitive domain, often neglected in self-management assessments.
• The scale is suitable for screening, care planning, and monitoring outcomes in Mandarin-speaking chronic pain populations.