Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities – SDSCA
A self-report instrument for measuring diabetes self-management regimens, including diet, exercise, blood sugar testing, foot care, and smoking.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities – SDSCA was developed by Deborah T. Toobert, Sarah E. Hampson, Russell E. Glasgow (2000). It is designed to measure Diabetes self-care behaviors. The scale is intended for use with Adults with diabetes.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 11 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: General Diet, Specific Diet, Exercise, Blood-Glucose Testing, Foot Care, Smoking.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| General Diet | 1,2 | 2 |
| Specific Diet | 3,4 | 2 |
| Exercise | 5,6 | 2 |
| Blood-Glucose Testing | 7,8 | 2 |
| Foot Care | 9,10 | 2 |
| Smoking | 11 | 1 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = 0 days, 1 = 1 day, 2 = 2 days, 3 = 3 days, 4 = 4 days, 5 = 5 days, 6 = 6 days, 7 = 7 days.
The scale includes 1 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 7. Interpretation guidelines:
- Average number of days per week performing the self-care activity: 0 – 7
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Varies by subscale.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.