A new Danish measure of stigma associated with type 1 diabetes.
By Caitlynn Ashton and Dr Adriana Ventura
One of our ongoing programs of research investigates the stigma surrounding diabetes. We have shown that people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) perceive and experience stigma associated with their condition. However, until recently we had no way of measuring how common this problem was. Thus, we developed the Type 1 Diabetes Stigma Assessment Scale (DSAS-1). You can read more about it here.
We have also come to learn that diabetes stigma is not just an issue in Australia. Researchers from all over the world have identified a need to study and gain a greater understanding about the stigma surrounding diabetes in their countries. In Denmark, there were no available measures to examine the extent of diabetes stigma for the Danish population. In order to facilitate such research, the team from Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen aimed to translate and adapt the Australian DSAS-1 for Danish adults with T1D. In collaboration with our team and using the same methods we used to develop the DSAS-1, the DSAS-1 DK was born. This work was led by Ulla Møller Hansen, a PhD candidate who spent some time at the ACBRD in 2017 to learn about our T1D stigma research and work with us on this study.
The DSAS-1 DK was found to be a valid and acceptable measure, and similarly to the Australian version, the DSAS-1 DK includes three subscales: ‘Treated Differently’, ‘Blame and Judgement’, and ‘Identity Concern’. So, not only does a stigma exist among Danish adults with T1D, but they too share similar experiences and perceptions with Australian adults with T1D.
The DSAS-1 DK is the first diabetes-related measure to examine stigma among Danish people with T1D and can now be used to investigate the perceived and experienced T1D stigma in a Danish context.
If you would like to use, adapt or translate the DSAS-1 or DSAS-1 DK scale in your research or clinical practice, please email info@acbrd.org.au to enquire about or access the latest version of the questionnaire and scoring guidance.
Hansen U, Willaing I, Ventura A, Olesen K, Speight J, Browne J. Stigma Perceived and Experienced by Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: Linguistic Adaptation and Psychometric Validation of the Danish Version of the Type 1 Diabetes Stigma Assessment Scale (DSAS-1 DK). Springer, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40271-0170289-x
Print This Post