Psychometric properties of the Diabetes Empowerment Scale Modified Version–Spanish, tested in an at‐risk Latino immigrant population.

Background: Latino populations are at high risk of developing diabetes; however, few scales measure self‐efficacy to change health behaviours in at‐risk Latino individuals. The Diabetes Empowerment Scale was translated into Spanish, and its psychometric properties were tested. Methods: This descriptive investigation was conducted with adults in a predominately Latino Midwest community. Participants (N = 141) completed a modified version of the Diabetes Empowerment Scale, which measures self‐efficacy in exercising and healthy eating. Factor analysis was performed on completed surveys. Recruitment in Latino cultural centres and parishes took place from June 2016 to May 2017. Results: Three factors emerged: self‐efficacy to exercise, emotional eating and social eating. Three scale questions had low scores during analysis; however, overall, the tool demonstrated adequate validity. Conclusions: The Diabetes Empowerment Scale Modified Version–Spanish demonstrated adequate reliability and validity. Healthy dietary preferences and physical activity in populations at‐risk for diabetes should be assessed by nurses to ascertain level of self‐efficacy in individuals by assessing confidence to engage in specific healthy behaviours. Summary statement: What is known about this topic? There is an increasing prevalence of diabetes among immigrant communities.Individuals at risk for diabetes often remain unaware of their risk factors.There are few culturally competent tools which measure risk of diabetes in immigrant communities. What this paper adds? The cross‐cultural adaption of the Diabetes Empowerment Scale Modified Version demonstrated reliability among a Spanish speaking immigrant population.The Diabetes Empowerment Scale Modified Version–Spanish had two categories of eating self‐efficacy and one category of exercise.The meaning of item 7 needs to be clarified, since it loaded on the emotional eating factor despite measuring exercise self‐efficacy. The implications of this paper: Measuring self‐confidence to exercise and to eat a healthy diet among at‐risk communities is important, especially in communities that face structural barriers.Addressing a gap in diabetes prevention, this study addresses the paucity of instruments to measure self‐efficacy in Spanish‐speaking individuals at risk for diabetes.Health‐care professionals including nurses can use this culturally competent tool to support diabetes prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]