Translation and Validation Study of the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey in a Greek Population of Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and their Parents
Eirini Kostopoulou,
Ourania Andreopoulou,
Sophia Daskalaki,
Eleni Kotanidou,
Angeliki Vakka,
Assimina Galli-Tsinopoulou,
Bessie E. Spiliotis,
Linda Gonder-Frederick,
Sotirios Fouzas
Affiliations
Eirini Kostopoulou
Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, University of Patras School of Medicine, 26500 Patras, Greece
Ourania Andreopoulou
Department of Psychiatry, University of Patras School of Medicine, 26500 Patras, Greece
Sophia Daskalaki
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Patras, 26500 Patras, Greece
Eleni Kotanidou
Unit of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes Mellitus, Second Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA University Hospital, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
Angeliki Vakka
Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, University of Patras School of Medicine, 26500 Patras, Greece
Assimina Galli-Tsinopoulou
Unit of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes Mellitus, Second Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA University Hospital, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
Bessie E. Spiliotis
Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, University of Patras School of Medicine, 26500 Patras, Greece
Linda Gonder-Frederick
Center for Diabetes Technology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
Sotirios Fouzas
Department of Pediatrics, University of Patras School of Medicine, 26500 Patras, Greece
The present study attempted to translate and culturally adapt an established research instrument, the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey (HFS) questionnaire, to the Greek population and evaluate its validity and internal consistency so that it can be used for the assessment of hypoglycemia fear in Greek children and adolescents with T1DM and their parents. One hundred Greek children and adolescents with T1DM, 54 males, 6–18 years old, and one of their parents participated in this validation study. The participants completed the translated Greek HFS, which includes one version for children (CHFS) and one for parents (PHFS). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used to assess construct validity. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, and convergent validity was established by estimating the correlation coefficients between the scores of the HFS scales/subscales and the different constructs of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. The CHFS and PHFS exhibited adequate internal consistency for the total score and the Worry subscale, but lower consistency for the Behavior subscale. High test–retest reliability was also shown. We conclude that the Greek version of the HFS is a valid and reliable instrument to assess the fear of hypoglycemia in Greek children and adolescents with T1DM and their parents.
