Development and validation of the chronic illness self-management (CISM) scale: Data from a young patient sample in Hong Kong

The increasing prevalence of early-onset chronic illnesses is a major global health challenge. Effective chronic illness self-management (CISM) is crucial in improving the quality of life of patients. This study aims to develop a holistic instrument to measure CISM among the young patient population in Hong Kong, which has rarely been investigated in past studies. A total of 497 individuals aged 12–45 years with chronic illness completed the questionnaire. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) resulted in a four-factor model. The four factors include treatment adherence, health maintenance efficacy, self-stigma, and coping with stigma. The final CFA results indicated good model fit (RMSEA = 0.069, CFI = 0.907, TLI = 0.894, and SRMR = 0.059) and good factor loadings (0.636–0.843). Subgroup consistency across the gender, age, illness category, and illness severity subsamples was demonstrated. Correlation between the CISM factors and emotional and behavioral functioning variables showed good concurrent validity. The results reflected unique CISM characteristics in Hong Kong under the influence of Chinese culture and the city's healthcare system. The development of this scale sheds light on how healthcare professionals can assess the CISM of young patients in a holistic manner.