The SCI ESES was developed to measure perceived exercise self-efficacy in individuals with SCI. The scale requires individuals to indicate their confidence in performing physical activities and exercise.  One dichotomous item asks whether the individual has exercised at home and/or in a gym in the past 12 months. The scale is SCI-specific and measures perceived self-efficacy for various types of physical exercise.

Number of items: 10

Procedure/Administration: Self-report, pen and paper format. It requires individuals to respond to items on a 4-point Likert scale (1-not at all true, 4-always true). Exercise activity is based on the response to a dichotomous item that specifies whether respondents have exercised ‘at home and/or gym’ vs. ‘no exercise’. 

How scored: The total score is derived by summing the scores for the individual items; possible scores range from 10 to 40.

Interpretability: Higher scores indicate greater perceived self-efficacy. The dichotomous item is used to estimate the subject’s average exercise activity. No cut points or norms have been established.

Acceptability: The ESES was developed specifically for the SCI population based on expert comments and interviews with individuals with SCI. Therefore, it should represent the physical activity and exercise self-efficacy issues of this unique population.

Languages: English

Usability: The scale is easy to administer and score.

Time to administer: 5 minutes

Time to score: N/a

Training required: None

Availability: The scale is available from the initial publication (Kroll et al., 2007). 

Equipment required: None

Summary:  Self-efficacy is the belief individuals have in their ability to perform certain behaviours to achieve desired outcomes. The ESES measures the subject’s perceived exercise self-efficacy beliefs. Evidence suggests that the adoption of and adherence to regular exercise is influenced by self-efficacy to perform physical activity. Consequently, this scale was developed to address the lack of an exercise self-efficacy tool for people with SCI.

Psychometric Summary:

Note: TR= Test re-test; IC= Internal Consistency; Inter-O= Inter-observer; Intra-O= Intra-observer; SS= Sensitivity/Specificity; N/a= No information.

Red light= A single study involving SCI subjects which has less than adequate findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Yellow light= A single study involving subjects with SCI which has adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Green light= At least 2 studies involving subjects with SCI which have adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

References

• Kroll T, Kehn M, Ho PS, Groah S. The SCI exercise self-efficacy scale (ESES): development and psychometric properties. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2007, 4:34.