Table 2. Item content and distribution of responses to individual items comparing insulin-naïve subjects versus insulin treated.

Insulin naïve (n=146) Insulin-treated (n=136)

Mean (SD) agree or Mean (SD) agree or strongly agree strongly agree

1.  Insulin signifies failure with pre-insulin therapy 3.4±1.4 54% 2.5±1.4*** 27%***

2.  Insulin signifies diabetes has worsened 3.9±1.6 73% 2.8±1.3*** 37%***

3.  Insulin will improve prognosis 3.8±1.1 62% 4.2±1.0*** 82%***

4.  Insulin will make others perceive greater sickness 3.2±1.3 41% 2.5±1.2*** 20%***

5.  Insulin will make life less flexible 3.8±1.1 70% 2.9±1.3*** 40%***

6.  Fear of needle injection 3.1±1.5 47% 1.4±1.0*** 6%***

7.  Insulin will increase the risk of hypoglycaemia 3.1±1.1 52% 3.0±1.3*** 40%***

8.  Insulin will improve health 3.6±1.0 53% 4.0±1.0*** 78%***

9.  Insulin will cause weight gain 3.1±0.9 23% 3.6±1.3*** 54%***

10.  Insulin will be demanding to administer 3.6±1.1 61% 2.7±1.2*** 28%***

11.  Insulin means I have to give up activities I enjoy 2.6±1.1 19% 1.9±1.1*** 10%***

12.  Insulin means my health will deteriorate 2.7±1.1 23% 2.2±1.1*** 13%***

13.  Injecting insulin is embarrassing 2.6±1.3 23% 1.8±1.3*** 10%***

14.  Injecting insulin is painful. 3.3±1.2 43% 2.7±1.3*** 38%**

15.  It is difficult to always inject insulin correctly 3.2±1.2 40% 2.3±1.3*** 26%***

16.  Insulin makes it difficult to fulfil my responsibilities 2.9±1.2 27% 1.9±1.1*** 9%***

17.  Insulin helps to maintain good control of blood glucose 3.7±1.0 59% 4.0±1.1* 73%***

18.  Using insulin causes family/friends to be more concerned 3.5±1.1 55% 3.1±1.3*** 46%**

19.  Insulin helps to improve my energy levels 3.2±0.7 25% 3.1±1.1 NS 35%***

20.  Insulin makes me more dependent on my doctor 3.4±1.1 40% 3.0±1.2*** 35%***

Mean Total Negative items ITAS 55.5±12.7 44.1±10.0***

Mean Total Positive items ITAS 14.3±2.9 15.2±2.8*

Mean Total ITAS (sum score 20 items, 4 negative recoded) 61.6±12.8 48.9±11.2***

Note: the phrases under “item content” are item descriptions, which are not exactly the same as the items. N= 282 respondents completed all 20 items of the ITAS.

* p< 0.05; ** P< 0.01; *** P< 0.001