Psychometric Evaluation of a Turkish Version of the Diabetes Fear of Self-injecting and Self-testing Questionnaire (D-FISQ)

PURPOSE: To examine the psychometric properties of a Turkish version of the Diabetes Fear of Injecting and Self-testing Questionnaire (D-FISQ). METHODS: Forward-backward translation of the D-FISQ from English into Turkish was conducted. Original English and translated forms were examined by a panel group. Validity was investigated using content, confirmatory factor analysis, and divergent validity. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach α values, item-total correlations, and intraclass correlations. The sample comprised 350 patients with diabetes. Data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 for Windows and LISREL 8. RESULTS: The content validity index for the panel members was .90, which indicated perfect content validity; items in D-FISQ were clear, concise, readable, and distinct. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the original construct of the D-FISQ. All items had factor loadings higher than the recommended level of .40. The D-FISQ scores were discriminated by the level of anxiety. Reliability results were also satisfactory. Cronbach α values were within ideal limits. Item-total correlation coefficient ranged from .72 to .86. In terms of test-retest reliability, intraclass correlation coefficient was found to be over .90. CONCLUSIONS: D-FISQ is a valid and reliable questionnaire in assessing needle-prick fear among Turkish patients with diabetes. We recommend performing the Turkish D-FISQ in determining and screening patients with diabetes who have fear related to self-insulin injection and finger-prick test. Thus, health care professionals should be aware of the potential consequences of injection fear such as insulin misuse and poor self-monitoring of blood glucose, which may have unfavorable effects on optimal diabetes management.

Dental anxiety in a sample of West Indian adults / Ansiedad dental en una muestra de adultos de West Indies

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the level of dental anxiety and its possible causes among people in Trinidad and Tobago. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional survey of parents and guardians accompanying children who were attending a paediatric dental clinic. Participants completed a questionnaire while in the waiting room, which included the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), age, gender and occupation. An additional item was included which asked participants to rate the anxiety felt on having a tooth extracted. RESULTS: There were 100participants (81% female). Overall, 40% of participants reported moderate to severe anxiety. Twenty-three per cent of participants had moderate anxiety (MDAS 15-18) and 17% had severe anxiety/phobia (MDAS 19-20). Level of anxiety was related to gender (multiple linear regression, p < 0.05). Proportions of participants were very/extremely anxious of having a tooth drilled (48%), local anaesthetic injection (53%) and extraction (52%). Thirty-six per cent of participants had avoided dental treatment in the past because they were too anxious. CONCLUSION: High levels of dental anxiety were found in this sample of Trinidadian adults. The MDAS was able to detect significant elements of that anxiety. The addition of a question on extraction revealed that this procedure may contribute substantially in anxiety toward dental treatment in the Caribbean.

OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el nivel de ansiedad dental y sus posibles causas entre las personas en Trinidad y Tobago. MÉTODO: Éste es un estudio transversal de padres y guardianes que acompañan a los niños que asistían a una clínica dental pediátrica. Los participantes llenaron un cuestionario mientras se hallaban en la sala de espera. El cuestionario incluía la Escala de Ansiedad Dental Modificada (EADM), edad, género y ocupación. Se incluyó un punto adicional que pedía a los participantes que clasificaran la ansiedad que sentían por la extracción de un diente. RESULTADOS: Había 100 participantes (81% hembra). En general, el 40% de los participantes reportó sentir una ansiedad de moderada a severa. El veintitrés por ciento de los participantes tenía una ansiedad moderada (EADM 15-18) y el 17% tenían ansiedad severa/fobia (EADM 19-20). El nivel de ansiedad guardaba relación con el género (regresión logística múltiple p < 0.05). Muchos participantes estaban muy/extremadamente ansiosos por tener un diente bajo la fresa dental (48%), una inyección con anestésico local (53%) y una extracción (52%). Treinta y seis por ciento de los participantes habían evitado el tratamiento dental en el pasado porque se sentían demasiado ansiosos. CONCLUSIÓN: Se encontraron niveles altos de ansiedad dental en esta muestra de adultos trinitenses. La EADM pudo detectar elementos significativos de esa ansiedad. Al añadirse una pregunta sobre extracción, se puso de manifiesto que este procedimiento puede contribuir substancialmente al problema de la ansiedad hacia el tratamiento dental en el Caribe.