Validity of the Mexican version of the combined Foot Care Confidence / Foot-Care Behavior scale for diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

To 1) translate / transculturally adapt the original (English-language) combined Foot Care Confidence Scale / Foot-Care Behavior instrument (FCCS-FCB) to produce a Mexican-Spanish version and 2) determine its validity and reliability in a population with diabetes in Tijuana, Mexico.

METHODS

The original FCCS-FCB was translated (and back-translated), the content validated (by a group of health professional experts), and the instrument applied to 304 patients 23-78 years old in diabetes support groups in Tijuana, Mexico. Internal consistency for the study constructs ("self-efficacy," and risk / preventive foot self-care behaviors) was measured using Cronbach's alpha. The constructs were validated using principal component factor analysis.

RESULTS

The Cronbach's alpha values for internal consistency were 0.782 for self-efficacy and 0.505 for behaviors. Based on the analysis, two factors explained 49.1% of the total variance for self-efficacy, and six factors explained 57.7% of the total variance for behaviors. The results were consistent with those for the original (English) version of the FCCS-FCB.

CONCLUSIONS

The Mexican version of the FCCS-FCB is a reliable and valid instrument recommended for use with Mexican-Spanish-speaking patients with diabetes.