Development of the Daily Time Management Scale for Use by Working People with Type 2 Diabetes

Aim: The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to assess daily time management capabilities among working patients with diabetes and to test this scale's reliability and validity.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among 277 diabetes outpatients, and data from 220 participants (mean age = 54.3 ± 10.2 years, 76.8% male) were analyzed. Questionnaire items were selected through exploratory factor analysis. During the process of developing the questionnaire, opinions were solicited from experts on education for patients with diabetes, and Cronbach's α was calculated as a coefficient of reliability. Correlations with the Instrument of Diabetes Self-Care Agency (IDSCA) were examined and confirmatory factor analysis was performed to check for validity.

Results: Adequacy of a 4-factor, 16-item scale was confirmed. Cronbach's α coefficient was ≥.7 for the entire scale and for the subscale items. There was a significant correlation between total IDSCA scores and various factors (r = .280-.469). However, there was no correlation between the "adjustment of life rhythms" and parts of the IDSCA subscale.

Conclusion: Although some aspects warrant further investigation, the developed scale provides a reliable and valid means of assessing daily time management capabilities among working patients with diabetes, and can thus be applied to help diabetes patients to manage their daily lives.