Preliminary psychometric analyses and clinical performance of a caregiver self-efficacy scale for food allergy self-management

Matthew Greenhawt; Audrey DunnGalvin

doi:10.1016/j.anai.2017.09.060

Preliminary psychometric analyses and clinical performance of a caregiver self-efficacy scale for food allergy self-management

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018 Jan;120(1):73-79. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2017.09.060.

Authors

Matthew Greenhawt¹, Audrey DunnGalvin²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Pediatrics, Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Pediatrics, Section of Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado. Electronic address: Matthew.Greenhawt@childrenscolorado.org.
² Department of Pediatrics & Child Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.

PMID: 29273132
DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2017.09.060

Abstract

Background: Food allergy health-related quality of life has been defined, but self-efficacy is poorly described.

Objective: To examine the preliminary reliability, validity, and clinical performance of a novel food allergy self-efficacy index.

Methods: An 8-item Food Allergy Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (FASEQ) was adapted for food allergy-related themes and coadministered with the Food Allergy Quality of Life Parental Burden (FAQL-PB) index to caregivers self-reporting a food allergic child (group A) and those with children followed up at a food allergy referral center clinic (group B). FASEQ split-half reliability, 2-week recall, factor analysis, and construct and discriminative validity were assessed. Multiple linear regression was used to explore predictive associations between the FAQL-PB and the FASEQ.

Results: Among 2,308 caregivers, the mean FASEQ score was 2.69 (95% CI, 2.66-2.73) and was lower (better) among group A (mean FASEQ score, 2.52; 95% CI, 2.49-2.56) vs group B (mean FASEQ score, 3.75; 95% CI, 3.66-3.84; P < .001). The FASEQ Cronbach α was 0.87, and the 2-week intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.75. Total and 6 of 8 individual FASEQ domain scores were significantly lower among caregivers with children having anaphylaxis or epinephrine use vs none and peanut or tree nut allergy vs milk or egg allergy, demonstrating good discriminative validity. Total FASEQ score was associated with FAQL-PB score (ICC, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.06-0.19; P < .001), with 6 of 8 FASEQ individual domains significantly associated (ICC range, -0.17 to 0.3; P < .01 for all). Factor analysis revealed 2 domains (medical care and social functioning) with construct validity.

Conclusion: We present preliminary evidence the FASEQ is a valid tool to assess caregiver food allergy self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is a distinct but related concept that captures aspects of self-management that are an important companion to health-related quality of life.

Publication types

Observational Study
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anaphylaxis / epidemiology*
Anaphylaxis / psychology
Caregivers
Child
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Food Hypersensitivity / epidemiology*
Food Hypersensitivity / psychology
Humans
Pilot Projects
Psychometrics / methods*
Quality of Life
Reproducibility of Results
Research Design / statistics & numerical data*
Self Efficacy
Self Report
Surveys and Questionnaires / standards*
United States / epidemiology
Work Performance

Grants and funding

K08 HS024599/HS/AHRQ HHS/United States