Validation of decisional balance inventory test in Italian: assessment of motivation in weight loss

Abstract

The decisional balance inventory (DBI) test is a valuable tool to assess motivation to change; we consider its application in enhancing motivation of losing weight. Our aim is the translation, cultural adaption and validation in Italian of this test originally designed and drafted in English. The questionnaire has been translated according to an English → Italian → Italian → English algorithm with reconciliation of the differences. Pilot study and retests were performed on 47 cases [body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2] and 15 controls (BMI value between 18.5 and 25 kg/m2). The internal consistency of the Italian version of DBI test, was satisfied (Cronbach α 0.87 on patients); test-retest shows a good concordance in pilot [Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-0.90] and in patient sample (Lin’s CCC 0.83; 95% CI: 0.67 0.99).Our study demonstrated the trans-cultural adaptation and validation of DBI test in Italian.

Keywords

• Validation
• decisional balance inventory
• motivation to change
• obesity.