VOLUME 1 - NUMBER 1 - 2021

Development and testing of a new instrument to measure self-care in patients with osteoporosis: the self-care of osteoporosis scale


  • Noemi Cittadini, Daniela D’Angelo, Emanuela Basilici Zannetti, Monica Celi, Annalisa Pennini, Gennaro Rocco, Ercole Vellone, Rosaria Alvaro, Umberto Tarantino
  • Original article, 28-33
  • Full text PDF

  • Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop and test the Self-Care of Osteoporosis Scale (SCOS), a new instrument to measure self-care in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

    Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The SCOS was developed by a panel of experts and it was theory- driven. Confirmatory factor analysis (N = 544) was used to test the instrument’s factorial validity; Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega were used to derive the measure’s internal consistency reliability; an intraclass correlation coefficient was used to evaluate test-retest reliability.

    Results: Confirmatory factor analysis resulted in supportive fit indices for the hypothesized three-factor structure of the SCOS (RMSEA = 0.065; CFI = 0.99). The SCOS was demonstrated to have content validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability.

    Conclusions: The SCOS demonstrated excellent psychometric characteristics in terms of validity and reliability. It may be used by healthcare providers to identify if patients show lower self-care and require educational interventions.

  • KEY WORDS: Osteoporosis, adherence, health promotion, self-care