Measuring the quality of Patients’ goals and action plans: development and validation of a novel tool

• Main Authors: Teal Cayla R, Haidet Paul, Balasubramanyam Ajay S, Rodriguez Elisa, Naik Aanand D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-12-01
• Series: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
• Subjects: Goal-setting; Diabetes; Self-management; Goals; Action plans; Measurement
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6947/12/152

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this study is to develop and test reliability, validity, and utility of the Goal-Setting Evaluation Tool for Diabetes (GET-D). The effectiveness of diabetes self-management is predicated on goal-setting and action planning strategies. Evaluation of self-management interventions is hampered by the absence of tools to assess quality of goals and action plans. To address this gap, we developed the GET-D, a criteria-based, observer rating scale that measures the quality of patients’ diabetes goals and action plans.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted 3-stage development of GET-D, including identification of criteria for observer ratings of goals and action plans, rater training and pilot testing; and then performed psychometric testing of the GET-D.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Trained raters could effectively rate the quality of patient-generated goals and action plans using the GET-D. Ratings performed by trained evaluators demonstrated good raw agreement (94.4%) and inter-rater reliability (Kappa = 0.66). Scores on the GET-D correlated well with measures theoretically associated with goal-setting, including patient activation (r=.252, P<.05), diabetes specific self-efficacy (r=.376, P<.001) and inverse relationship with depression (r= −.376, P<.01). Significant between group differences (P<.01) in GET-D scores between goal-setting intervention (mean = 7.33, standard deviation = 4.4) and education groups (mean = 4.93, standard deviation = 3.9) confirmed construct validity of the GET-D.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The GET-D can reliably and validly rate the quality of goals and action plans. It holds promise as a measure of intervention fidelity for clinical interventions that promote diabetes self-management behaviors to improve clinical outcomes.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00481286</p>