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. 2018 Feb;3(1):106-111.
doi: 10.5301/jsrd.5000260. Epub 2017 Sep 25.

Development and preliminary validation of the Scleroderma Support Group Leader Self-efficacy Scale

Nicole E Pal  1 , Stephanie T Gumuchian  1   2 , Vanessa C Delisle  1   2 , Mia Pépin  1 , Vanessa L Malcarne  3   4 , Marie-Eve Carrier  1 , Linda Kwakkenbos  1   5   6 , Sandra Peláez  1   2 , Ghassan El-Baalbaki  7 , Brett D Thombs  1   2   4   8   9 ; Scleroderma Support Group Project Advisory Team*
Affiliations

Development and preliminary validation of the Scleroderma Support Group Leader Self-efficacy Scale

Nicole E Pal et al. J Scleroderma Relat Disord. 2018 Feb.

Abstract

Support groups are an important resource for people living with systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma). Peer support group leaders play an important role in the success and sustainability of SSc support groups, but face challenges that include a lack of formal training. An SSc support group leader training program could improve leader self-efficacy to carry out important leadership tasks, including the management of group dynamics. However, no measures exist to assess self-efficacy among SSc support group leaders. The objective of this study was to develop and provide preliminary evidence on the reliability and validity of the Scleroderma Support Group Leader Self-efficacy Scale (SSGLSS). The SSGLSS was administered to two sets of SSc support group leaders from North America, Europe, and Australia. Study 1 participants (n = 102) completed the SSGLSS only. Study 2 participants (n = 55) completed the SSGLSS and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI). For both studies, we evaluated internal consistency reliability using Cronbach's coefficient alpha. Convergent validity was assessed in Study 2 using Pearson correlations of the SSGLSS with the OLBI exhaustion and disengagement subscales. Cronbach's alpha was 0.96 in Study 1 and 0.95 in Study 2. Consistent with our hypotheses, there was a small negative correlation between SSGLSS scores and the OLBI exhaustion subscale (r = -0.25, p<0.01) and a moderate negative correlation between SSGLSS scores and the disengagement subscale (r = -0.38, p<0.01). These results suggest that the SSGLSS is a reliable and valid measure of self-efficacy for carrying out support group leadership tasks.

Keywords: Patient-reported outcome measures; Psychometrics; Scleroderma; Self-help groups; Social support; Systemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: Financial support: The research was supported by the Scleroderma Society of Ontario and the Canadian Initiative for Outcomes in Rheumatology Care. Conflict of interest: None of the authors has financial interest related to this study to disclose.

References

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