Adaptation of the Glucose Monitoring System Satisfaction Scale for Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Into Turkish: A Study on Validity and Reliability

Background/Aims Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by disorders of carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism, as well as vascular abnormalities caused by insulin deficiency or resistance. It may progress with severe complications and lead to early mortality. For diabetic patients, it is essential to be able to measure their own blood glucose levels at home to detect any increases or decreases and take necessary precautions. To evaluate treatment satisfaction and the quality of glucose monitoring devices, Polonsky et al. developed the Glucose Monitoring System Satisfaction (GMSS) Scale, which consists of 4 factors and 15 items. In this study, we investigated the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the GMSS Scale and examined its association with HbA1c levels, sociodemographic characteristics, and related variables. Methods A research questionnaire developed by the authors and the GMSS Scale were used. The questionnaire consisted of a sociodemographic section and 52 items in total—37 items assessing the GMSS Scale and 15 items constituting the scale itself. Patients who attended the Internal Medicine and Endocrinology Outpatient Clinics of Katip Çelebi University between April 1, 2018, and September 31, 2018, were voluntarily included in the study. Results The study included 152 patients with Type 1 diabetes (102 females and 50 males). The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.814, indicating high internal consistency. The overall correlation of the scale was positive and significant ( r = 0.927, p < 0.0001). Factor loadings for the Turkish adaptation ranged from 0.38 to 0.76, demonstrating acceptable validity. Patients who perceived their diabetes education quality as higher had significantly greater satisfaction scores. Regression analysis showed that insulin type, HbA1c level, quality of life, and educational well‐being significantly predicted overall satisfaction (adjusted R 2 = 0.265). A significant inverse correlation was observed between HbA1c levels and total satisfaction scores ( p < 0.0001, r = −0.389). Conclusion The results of our study indicate that the GMSS Scale, developed by Polonsky et al. and consisting of 4 factors and 15 items, is a valid and reliable tool for use in Turkish populations. This scale provides an effective method for evaluating treatment satisfaction and the quality of glucose monitoring devices. Moreover, diabetes education plays a critically important role in achieving optimal glycemic control.