EXERCISE SELF-EFFICACY IN PERSONS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY: PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE DUTCH TRANSLATION OF THE EXERCISE SELF-EFFICACY SCALE

Objective: To assess the reliability and validity of the Dutch version of the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES) in persons with spinal cord injury. This is the first independent study of ESES psychometric properties, and the first report on ESES test retest reliability. Subjects/patients: A total of 53 Dutch persons with spinal cord injury. Methods: Subjects completed the Dutch ESES twice, with 2 weeks between (ESES_1 and ESES_2). Subjects also completed the General Self-Efficacy scale (GSE), and a questionnaire regarding demographic characteristics and lesion characteristics. Psychometric properties of the Dutch translation of the ESES were assessed and compared with those of the original English-language version. Results: The Dutch ESES was found to have good internal consistency (Cronbach's a for ESES_1=0.90, ESES_2 =0.88). Test retest reliability was adequate (intraclass correlation coefficient= 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.70-0.89). For validity, a moderate, statistically significant correlation was found between ESES and the GSE (Spearman's p ESES_1 =0.52, ESES_2 =0.66, p<0.01). Furthermore, the psychometric properties of the Dutch ESES were found to be similar to those of the original English version. Conclusion: The results of this study support the use of the ESES as a reliable and valid measure of exercise self-efficacy.