Self-efficacy in adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease: a pilot study of the "IBD-yourself", a disease-specific questionnaire

J Crohns Colitis. 2013 Oct;7(9):e375-85. doi: 10.1016/j.crohns.2013.02.017. Epub 2013 Mar 26.

Abstract

Background and aims: Successful transfer of adolescent IBD patients to an adult gastroenterologist requires anticipation of a changing role for patients and their parents. Self-efficacy has been demonstrated to be important for transfer readiness. We therefore developed an IBD-specific questionnaire (the "IBD-yourself") to assess self-efficacy in adolescent IBD patients visiting a transition clinic. Our aim was to evaluate the reliability of this questionnaire, and to describe the self-efficacy level of adolescent IBD patients, and the perceived self-efficacy level according to their parents.

Methods: In a cross-sectional design, 50 IBD patients (aged 14-18 years) and 40 parents completed the "IBD-yourself" questionnaire. Internal reliability was assessed by standardised Cronbach's α. Median self-efficacy scores per domain were calculated.

Results: The domains of the questionnaire for adolescents showed good to excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach's α ranging from 0.64 to 0.93. The domains of the parental questionnaire had Cronbach's α ranging from 0.47 to 0.93. Median self-efficacy scores of adolescents varied from 70 to 100%. In comparison with patient's self-assessment, parents thought that their child was more self-efficacious in knowledge of IBD and diagnostic tests, self-management of medication use, and transfer readiness. Length of time since first visit to the transition clinic was positively correlated with several domains of the questionnaire, such as independent behaviour at the outpatient clinic, and transfer readiness.

Conclusion: The "IBD-yourself" questionnaire is a first step toward evaluating quality and efficacy of IBD transition programmes. Paediatric gastroenterologists should be aware that parents do not always accurately assess the self-efficacy of their child.

Keywords: Adolescents; IBD Self-efficacy Scale; IBD-SES; IQR; Inflammatory bowel disease; Interquartile range; Paediatrics; SD; SEm; Self-efficacy; Standard deviation; Standard error of the measurement; Transition; VAS; Visual analogue scale.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Educational Status
  • Fathers / psychology
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / psychology*
  • Male
  • Mothers / psychology
  • Pilot Projects
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self Efficacy*
  • Self-Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Transition to Adult Care*