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Translation and validation of the Dutch version of the Effective Consumer Scale (EC-17)

Abstract

Purpose  

The Effective Consumer Scale (EC-17) measures the skills of musculoskeletal patients in managing their own healthcare. The
objectives of this study were to translate the EC-17 into Dutch and to further evaluate its psychometric properties.

Methods  

The EC-17 was translated and cognitively pretested following cross-cultural adaptation guidelines. Two hundred and thirty-eight
outpatients (52 % response rate) with osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia completed the EC-17 along with other validated measures.
Three weeks later, 101 patients completed the EC-17 again.

Results  

Confirmatory factor analysis supported the unidimensional structure of the scale. The items adequately fit the Rasch model
and only one item demonstrated differential item functioning. Person reliability was high (0.92), but item difficulty levels
tended to cluster around the middle of the scale, and measurement precision was highest for moderate and lower levels of skills.
The scale demonstrated adequate test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.71), and correlations with other measures were largely as
expected.

Conclusion  

The results supported the validity and reliability of the Dutch version of the EC-17, but suggest that the scale is best targeted
at patients with relatively low levels of skills. Future studies should further examine its sensitivity to change in a clinical
trial specifically aimed at improving effective consumer skills.

  • Content Type Journal Article
  • Category Brief Communication
  • Pages 1-7
  • DOI 10.1007/s11136-012-0162-2
  • Authors
    • Peter M. ten Klooster, Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, Arthritis Centre Twente, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
    • Erik Taal, Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, Arthritis Centre Twente, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
    • Liseth Siemons, Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, Arthritis Centre Twente, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
    • Johanna C. M. Oostveen, Department of Rheumatology, Ziekenhuisgroep Twente, PO Box 7600, Almelo, The Netherlands
    • Etelka J. Harmsen, Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, Arthritis Centre Twente, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
    • Peter S. Tugwell, Centre for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 1 Stewart Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
    • Tamara Rader, Centre for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 1 Stewart Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
    • Anne Lyddiatt, Centre for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 1 Stewart Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
    • Mart A. F. J. van de Laar, Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, Arthritis Centre Twente, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands