Adaptation and Validation of the Italian Version of the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (I-DSMQ) with an Additional Focus on Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Background/Objectives: The Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ) provides a multidimensional measure of diabetes self-management behaviors essential for glycemic control. However, the DSMQ has never been validated in Italy despite the increasing prevalence of diabetes. This study aims to validate the Italian version of the DSMQ (I-DSMQ), with an additional focus on patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Two samples of patients attending the diabetology clinic at the ASL of Rieti were selected. The first sample included 70 patients diagnosed with either Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), while the second sample consisted of 99 individuals diagnosed with T2DM. Both groups completed the same questionnaire, the Italian version (I-DSMQ) of the original 16-item DSMQ, two times. Results: The results show that the Italian version maintains its reliability and consistency as an instrument applied to the Italian context in the self-management evaluation of patients with T1DM and T2DM. However, the Italian adaptation shows less satisfactory results considering only a subgroup of patients with T2DM. Conclusions: The I-DSMQ is a reliable and valid tool among Italian patients with T1DM and T2DM. Further insights are needed for the health usage domain if only T2DM patients are considered.