Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the new fear of hypoglycemia scale: FH-15.
Ya-Qian Liu, Si-Qi Xiong, Ming Sang and 5 others
PMID 31406846WHAT IT FOUND
In Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes and past hypoglycemia, FH-15 scores of 30.5 or higher suggested fear of low blood sugar; 58.3% screened positive.
Key findings
01The Chinese FH-15 items worked together consistently (0.918), and scores were stable over two weeks (0.903).
02The Chinese FH-15 kept the original three dimensions: fear, interference, and avoidance.
03A FH-15 score above 30.5 suggested fear of hypoglycemia; 58.3% screened positive.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was a convenience sample from four hospitals in one city, so it may not represent other regions or settings. Only patients with type 2 diabetes who had already experienced hypoglycemia were tested, so it does not show how the scale performs in type 1 diabetes or patients without prior hypoglycemia. One item had lower stability over two weeks (0.733), and the retest happened after discharge when patients' routines and environments may have changed. The cutoff was judged against a single yes/no question about fear, not a clinical diagnosis.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest or funding were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read a score of 30.5 or higher as proof that fear caused poor glucose control or that treating the fear will improve outcomes. The study validated a screening questionnaire; it did not test any intervention.