Abstract
ABSTRACT
Aims/Introduction
This study aimed to explore inadvertent stigmatizing attitudes of healthcare professionals (HCPs) toward people with diabetes (PWD) and to develop a questionnaire to assess such stigma.
Materials and methods
One hundred items that might reveal stigmatization of PWD were drafted in consultation with HCPs and previous reports and were responded to on a 7‐point Likert scale.
Results
Responses to the 100 draft items from 191 of 250 participants (51 males and 140 females, aged 36.0 ± 10.4 years) were subjected to exploratory factor analysis. We then developed a novel scale, the Kanden‐Institute Components of Stigma for HCPs 24 (KICS‐HCP24), which comprises 5 components: “blame and prejudice,” “social distancing,” “embarrassing,” “deviation from social norms,” and “less advocative,” with 4–5 items in each component. The KICS‐HCP24 was then undertaken by 460 HCPs (363 replied, 82 males and 281 females, aged 35.0 ± 10.2 years). Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated acceptable model fit (Comparative Fit Index = 0.932). Internal consistency was good (Cronbach's alpha = 0.851), and test–retest reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.868,
P
Conclusion
Stigmatizing attitudes among HCPs were found to comprise five domains. The KICS‐HCP24 is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing these components and may help to identify the potential for stigma in healthcare settings.