Validation of Diabetes Mellitus knowledge (DKN-A) and attitude (ATT-19) questionnaires

Objective To present the cross-cultural adaptation of the Diabetes Knowledge Scale and Attitudes Questionnaires targeted to evaluate Brazilian Diabetes Mellitus patients. Methods These questionnaires underwent the following steps: presentation, translation, back translation, semantic and idiomatic assessments, cultural and conceptual similarities and a pilot test. They were administered in two opportunities a month apart in a sample of 61 Diabetes Mellitus type-2 patients from a university hospital. The study, design included a test-retest reliability of the answers, which were analyzed and estimated by means of the Kappa coefficient. Results The findings suggested an adequacy of the instruments to the Portuguese language and Brazilian cultural identity. The Kappa coefficient in the reliability analysis showed levels of concordance from moderate to high (0.44 to 0.69)for most questions. Conclusions The questionnaires proved to be of very easy understanding for the studied subjects and reliable and valid for use in the evaluation of diabetes educational programs in the reality of Brazil.