Scales for the measurement of self-efficacy and decisional balance in the process of behavioral change in smokers

In the contextual framework of the transtheoretical model of change by Proc haska, we dcl eloped scales for the measurement of self-efficacy and decisi onal balance. Our sample consists of 279 former or present smokers out of 5 92 persons in 60 general practices. These persons participated in a health check-up provided by German Inv ( 25 SGB V). They filled in the following s cales: self-efficacy (SER) and decisional balance (EBR) regarding quitting smoking, as well as the stages of change scale according to Prochaska (Veli cer, DiClemente, Prochaska & Brandenburg, 1985). The SER scale has one dime nsion, an internal consistency of alpha = 0.95, and a retest reliability (6 weeks) of r = 0.85. It consists of 9 items. The EBR scale is two dimension al. Five items that are allocated to the first dimension represent the adva ntages of change. This subscale has an internal consistency of 0.85 and a r etest reliability of 0.73. The second dimension is also represented by five items and refers to the disadvantages of change. internal consistency is a lpha = 0.83 and retest reliability r = 0.66. Advanced stages of change go a long with an increase of self-efficacy beliefs and of perceived advantages and a decrease of perceived disadvantages of nonsmoking. Employing these sc ales in the process of behavioral change might enable more specific interve ntions.