Developing the Chinese version problem areas in diabetes-teen for measuring diabetes distress in adolescents with type 1 diabetes

To translate the 26-item English version Problem Areas in Diabetes-Teen (PAID-T) into a Chinese version and then to examine its psychometrical properties for measuring diabetes distress in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The 26-item English version PAID-T was translated into a Chinese version guided by the translation model for cross-cultural research. A cross-sectional design was used and 203 adolescents with T1D were recruited from four hospitals in Taiwan. Content validity, exploratory factor analysis, and item analysis were used to ensure the item quality and build the factor structure of the Chinese version PAID-T. Confirmatory factor analysis, concurrent validity, and reliability testing were also used to examine its psychometric properties. The three second-order factors of the 18-item Chinese version PAID-T were developed. The correlation coefficients of the three-factor Chinese version PAID-T with self-management and glycosylated hemoglobin levels were all significant and ranged from −0.32 to −0.45 and 0.18 to 0.33 respectively. Cronbach's α and the test–retest reliability of the three-factor Chinese version PAID-T ranged from 0.85 to 0.93 and from 0.89 to 0.94 respectively. The Chinese version PAID-T with good translation quality was a reliable and valid scale to screen and assess diabetes distress for adolescents with T1D. Nurses could use the Chinese version PAID-T to track diabetes distress and tailor interventions for adolescents with T1D; also, the Chinese version PAID-T could facilitate the conducting of research on diabetes distress for adolescents with T1D. •The Chinese version PAID-T is a validated and ease-to-use scale.•The Chinese version PAID-T can assess diabetes distress for adolescents.•The Chinese version PAID-T can identify specific sources of diabetes distress.•Nurses can use the Chinese version PAID-T to tailor interventions for adolescents.•The Chinese version PAID-T can conduct research on diabetes distress for adolescents.