Psychometric Evaluation of the Arabic Version of the Self-Care Self-Efficacy Scale in Individuals With Chronic Conditions

BackgroundSelf-efficacy is a key determinant of effective self-care among individuals with chronic conditions, yet validated tools for assessing this construct remain limited for Arabic-speaking populations. The lack of culturally adapted and psychometrically evaluated instruments restricts clinicians’ ability to identify patients who may require additional support.ObjectiveTo evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the SCSES-Ar among individuals living with chronic conditions.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with 1598 Arabic-speaking adult patients from four tertiary hospitals in Oman, Jordan, and Egypt. Participants were diagnosed with one or more chronic illnesses. The study assessed internal consistency, test–retest reliability, structural validity using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA), and convergent validity using the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory (SC-CII).ResultsParticipants had a mean age of 54.1 years (SD = 15.8), and 56.2% were female. EFA supported a unidimensional structure explaining 50.5% of the variance (KMO = 0.924). CFA confirmed the model fit (CFI = 0.968; TLI = 0.959; RMSEA = 0.056; SRMR = 0.027). Internal consistency was strong (Cronbach’s α = 0.82), and test–retest reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.923). SCSES-Ar scores showed significant positive correlations with SC-CII subscales: maintenance (r = 0.537), monitoring (r = 0.515), and management (r = 0.409), supporting convergent validity.ConclusionThe Arabic version of the SCSES is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing self-efficacy in self-care among patients with chronic conditions. It is suitable for use in clinical practice and research across Arabic-speaking populations.