Development of the diabetes knowledge (DKN) scales: forms DKNA, DKNB, and DKNC

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Psychology
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Existing diabetes knowledge assessments can be time-consuming.
• There is a need for rapid and reliable tools to measure diabetes knowledge in patients.
• The Diabetes Knowledge Assessment (DKN) scales were developed to address this need.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate rapid and reliable scales for assessing diabetes knowledge.
• To create parallel forms of the DKN scales for retesting and research.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the DKN scales in a clinical trial.

Main Methods:

• Initial item pool of 89 items, refined through pilot testing with over 300 diabetic subjects.
• Reliability analysis using Cronbach's alpha (0.92 for 40 items, >0.82 for 15-item parallel forms).
• Clinical trial with 219 subjects using randomized parallel forms (DKNA, DKNB, DKNC) before and after a 2-day diabetes education program.

Main Results:

• The 40-item DKN scale demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92).
• Parallel forms (DKNA, DKNB, DKNC) showed high inter-correlation (0.90) and reliability (>0.82).
• Overall diabetes knowledge scores significantly improved post-education (51% to 75%); parallel forms were equivalent at pretest, with a minor posttest discrepancy explained by program changes.

Conclusions:

• The 15-item DKN scales provide a rapid and reliable method for assessing diabetes knowledge.
• Validated parallel forms (DKNA, DKNB, DKNC) enhance diagnostic and research capabilities.
• These scales are effective in measuring knowledge changes following diabetes education programs.