Validity and Reliability of the Self-rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale in Thai Older Adults with Non-communicable Diseases

Abstract

Background: Thailand’s aging population faces a high burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), requiring effective self-care strategies. The Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices (SRAHP) Scale is widely used to assess self-efficacy in health-promoting behaviors, but a validated Thai version has not been established. Objectives: To translate, culturally adapt, and evaluate the validity and reliability of the Thai version of the SRAHP Scale among older adults with NCDs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 250 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years diagnosed with at least one NCD. The SRAHP was translated using Beaton’s guidelines. Construct validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s alpha. Results: The study included 250 older adults with NCDs (mean age = 69.61 years, SD = 7.47; 63.60% female), primarily diagnosed with hypertension (65.60%) and diabetes mellitus (36.80%). Criterion validity analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between SRAHP scores and health-promoting behaviors (r = 0.61, P < 0.001). CFA confirmed the original four-factor structure with good model fit [χ²/df = 2.45, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.96, Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.95, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.06]. All factor loadings ranged from 0.80–0.95. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.93 overall and 0.77 - 0.91 across subscales. Conclusions: The Thai SRAHP is a valid, reliable tool for evaluating self-efficacy in health-promoting behaviors. It can support targeted interventions for older adults with NCDs and enhance chronic disease management in community and clinical settings.