A theory-based reproductive health and diabetes instrument.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine psychometric properties of scales within the theoretically based Reproductive Health Attitudes and Behavior (RHAB) instrument for examining preconception planning of young women with diabetes. Scales represented constructs from 3 social cognition models that can influence reproductive health behavior. METHODS: Psychometrics were examined on data from a telephone interview on this 48-item instrument using a sample of 87 female adolescents with diabetes from 4 medical centers. RESULTS: Overall, the major factors (scales) clustered according to theoretical underpinning. Most Cronbach alphas were moderate (.60-.83). CONCLUSIONS: RHAB appears to have acceptable levels of validity/reliability for use with female adolescents with diabetes.