scholarly journals An Internet Resource for Self-Assessment of Mental Health and Health Behavior: Development and Implementation of the Self-Assessment Kiosk

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. e39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G Maunder ◽  
Jonathan J Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
The Self ◽  
Internet Survey ◽  
Internet Resource ◽  
Measurement Instruments ◽  
Health Measurement ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Over Time

Background Standardized measurement of physical and mental health is useful for identification of health problems. Personalized feedback of the results can influence health behavior, and treatment outcomes can be improved by monitoring feedback over time. However, few resources are available that are free for users, provide feedback from validated measurement instruments, and measure a wide range of health domains. Objective This study aimed to develop an internet self-assessment resource that fills the identified gap and collects data to generate and test hypotheses about health, to test its feasibility, and to describe the characteristics of its users. Methods The Self-Assessment Kiosk was built using validated health measurement instruments and implemented on a commercial internet survey platform. Data regarding usage and the characteristics of users were collected over 54 weeks. The rate of accrual of new users, popularity of measurement domains, frequency with which multiple domains were selected for measurement, and characteristics of users who chose particular questionnaires were assessed. Results Of the 1435 visits, 441 (30.73%) were visiting for the first time, completed at least 1 measure, indicated that their responses were truthful, and consented to research. Growth in the number of users over time was approximately linear. Users were skewed toward old age and higher income and education. Most (53.9%, 234/434) reported at least 1 medical condition. The median number of questionnaires completed was 5. Internal reliability of most measures was good (Cronbach alpha>.70), with lower reliability for some subscales of coping (self-distraction alpha=.35, venting alpha=.50, acceptance alpha=.51) and personality (agreeableness alpha=.46, openness alpha=.45). The popular questionnaires measured depression (61.0%, 269/441), anxiety (60.5%, 267/441), attachment insecurity (54.2%, 239/441), and coping (46.0%, 203/441). Demographic characteristics somewhat influenced choice of instruments, accounting for <9% of the variance in this choice. Mean depression and anxiety scores were intermediate between previously studied populations with and without mental illness. Modeling to estimate the sample size required to study relationships between variables suggested that the accrual of users required to study the relationship between 3 variables was 2 to 3 times greater than that required to study a single variable. Conclusions The value of the Self-Assessment Kiosk to users and the feasibility of providing this resource are supported by the steady accumulation of new users over time. The Self-Assessment Kiosk database can be interrogated to understand the relationships between health variables. Users who select particular instruments tend to have scores that are higher than those found in the general population, indicating that instruments are more likely to be selected when they are salient. Self-selection bias limits generalizability and needs to be taken into account when using the Self-Assessment Kiosk database for research. Ethical issues that were considered in developing and implementing the Self-Assessment Kiosk are discussed.

scholarly journals An Internet Resource for Self-Assessment of Mental Health and Health Behavior: Development and Implementation of the Self-Assessment Kiosk (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G Maunder ◽  
Jonathan J Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
The Self ◽  
Internet Survey ◽  
Internet Resource ◽  
Measurement Instruments ◽  
Health Measurement ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Over Time

BACKGROUND Standardized measurement of physical and mental health is useful for identification of health problems. Personalized feedback of the results can influence health behavior, and treatment outcomes can be improved by monitoring feedback over time. However, few resources are available that are free for users, provide feedback from validated measurement instruments, and measure a wide range of health domains. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to develop an internet self-assessment resource that fills the identified gap and collects data to generate and test hypotheses about health, to test its feasibility, and to describe the characteristics of its users. METHODS The Self-Assessment Kiosk was built using validated health measurement instruments and implemented on a commercial internet survey platform. Data regarding usage and the characteristics of users were collected over 54 weeks. The rate of accrual of new users, popularity of measurement domains, frequency with which multiple domains were selected for measurement, and characteristics of users who chose particular questionnaires were assessed. RESULTS Of the 1435 visits, 441 (30.73%) were visiting for the first time, completed at least 1 measure, indicated that their responses were truthful, and consented to research. Growth in the number of users over time was approximately linear. Users were skewed toward old age and higher income and education. Most (53.9%, 234/434) reported at least 1 medical condition. The median number of questionnaires completed was 5. Internal reliability of most measures was good (Cronbach alpha>.70), with lower reliability for some subscales of coping (self-distraction alpha=.35, venting alpha=.50, acceptance alpha=.51) and personality (agreeableness alpha=.46, openness alpha=.45). The popular questionnaires measured depression (61.0%, 269/441), anxiety (60.5%, 267/441), attachment insecurity (54.2%, 239/441), and coping (46.0%, 203/441). Demographic characteristics somewhat influenced choice of instruments, accounting for <9% of the variance in this choice. Mean depression and anxiety scores were intermediate between previously studied populations with and without mental illness. Modeling to estimate the sample size required to study relationships between variables suggested that the accrual of users required to study the relationship between 3 variables was 2 to 3 times greater than that required to study a single variable. CONCLUSIONS The value of the Self-Assessment Kiosk to users and the feasibility of providing this resource are supported by the steady accumulation of new users over time. The Self-Assessment Kiosk database can be interrogated to understand the relationships between health variables. Users who select particular instruments tend to have scores that are higher than those found in the general population, indicating that instruments are more likely to be selected when they are salient. Self-selection bias limits generalizability and needs to be taken into account when using the Self-Assessment Kiosk database for research. Ethical issues that were considered in developing and implementing the Self-Assessment Kiosk are discussed.

scholarly journals Evaluation of a mental health website for teenagers

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 175-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukru Ercan ◽  
Andrew Kevern ◽  
Leo Kroll
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
School Nurses ◽  
The Self ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Perceived Need ◽  
Screening Questionnaires ◽  
Assessment Questionnaire

Aim and MethodRu-ok.com is a recently developed website that includes a self-assessment questionnaire. The aim of this study was to evaluate the website and compare the self-assessment questionnaire with established screening questionnaires. A total of 105 teenagers from schools completed three paper-based questionnaires and the online ru-ok.com questionnaire.ResultsThe website receives 730 visits a week. Visits to the advice section and stories about mental health and relationships account for 35% of activity. Of the returned questionnaires, 80% were positive about the website. There were modest and expected correlations between the website questionnaire (RU–OK) and the Mood and Feelings (MFQ) and Strength and Difficulties (SDQ) questionnaires.Clinical ImplicationsInternet-based self-assessment is feasible and acceptable to teenagers. Self-assessment of perceived need by teenagers may be a useful tool for tier one professionals, including teachers, general practitioners, school nurses, social workers and learning mentors.

scholarly journals Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Infants field trial: concurrent validity

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Brann ◽  
Gordana Culjak ◽  
Nick Kowalenko ◽  
Rosemary Dickson ◽  
Tim Coombs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Concurrent Validity ◽  
Outcome Measure ◽  
Face Validity ◽  
Advisory Panel ◽  
Measurement Instruments ◽  
Health Measurement ◽  
Global Assessment Scale ◽  
Routine Outcome Measure

Background A review of Australian mental health services identified a gap in routine outcome measures addressing social, emotional and behavioural domains for pre-schoolers and infants. A Child and Adolescent Mental Health Information Development Expert Advisory Panel working group developed the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Infants (HoNOSI), a clinician-reported routine outcome measure for infants 0–47 months. Prior face validity testing showed that the HoNOSI was considered useful in measuring mental health outcomes. Aims To examine the concurrent validity of the HoNOSI. Method Mental health clinicians providing assessment and treatment to infants in routine clinical practice participated in the study. The mental health status of 108 infants were rated by a minimum of 26 clinicians with the HoNOSI, the Parent-Infant Relationship Global Assessment Scale (PIR-GAS) and measures of symptom severity and distress. Results The HoNOSI was statistically significantly correlated with the PIR–;GAS, rs = −0.73; Clinical Worry, rs = 0.77; and Severity Judgement ratings, rs = 0.85; P < 0.001. A good level of internal consistency was found. Using the COsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) criteria for judging instrument acceptability, the HoNOSI meets the standard for both concurrent validity and internal consistency. Conclusions There has been a clear need for a routine outcome measure for use with infants. This study provides positive evidence of aspects of validity. These findings, along with those from the prior face validity study, support a controlled release of the HoNOSI accompanied by further research and development.

scholarly journals Διερεύνηση της επίδρασης της λειτουργικότητας-ανικανότητας των πασχόντων από ιδιοπαθή φλεγμονώδη νοσήματα του εντέρου (ΙΦΝΕ) στην ποιότητα ζωής

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Κωνσταντίνος Αργυρίου
Keyword(s):  
Short Form ◽  
World Health ◽  
Measurement Instruments ◽  
Health Measurement ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire ◽  
Sf 36 ◽  
Inflammatory Bowel ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Patient Concerns

Σκοποί και στόχοι: Σκοποί της παρούσας ερευνητικής εργασίας ήταν η εκτίμηση του επιπέδου ανικανότητας (οριζόμενη σύμφωνα με το εννοιολογικό πλαίσιο που καθορίζει η διεθνής ταξινόμηση για την λειτουργικότητα) και η ανάδειξη συγκεκριμένων τομέων της λειτουργικότητας που οι πάσχοντες από ιδιοπαθή φλεγμονώδη νοσήματα του εντέρου (ΙΦΝΕ) αντιμετώπιζαν τους μεγαλύτερους περιορισμούς, καθώς και η διερεύνηση της σχέσης της εκτιμηθείσας ανικανότητας με την ποιότητα ζωής (ΠΖ) και τα χαρακτηριστικά του υπό μελέτη πληθυσμού ασθενών.Επιπρόσθετα, οι επιμέρους στόχοι που τέθηκαν αφορούσαν την περιγραφή των ανησυχιών του ίδιου πληθυσμού και την καταγραφή των αρνητικών επιδράσεων που ασκεί στους οικείους φροντιστές το βάρος των απαιτήσεων της φροντίδας των πασχόντων, καθώς και η διερεύνηση της σχέσης της ανάμεσα στο επίπεδο ανησυχίας των πασχόντων και στην επιβάρυνση των φροντιστών με τα χαρακτηριστικά του αντίστοιχου υπό μελέτη πληθυσμού.Υλικό και Μεθοδολογία έρευνας: Η μελέτη διήρκεσε τρία χρόνια (2013-2016) και περιελάμβανε 200 ασθενείς (52% ελκώδη κολίτιδα (ΕΚ)) και 181 φροντιστές από ένα τριτοβάθμιο κέντρο αναφοράς στην κεντρική Ελλάδα. Η αναπηρία αξιολογείται χρησιμοποιώντας την έκδοση 36 ερωτήσεων του ερωτηματολογίου World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0). Η ΠΖ των φροντιστών αξιολογήθηκε με την Short Form survey (SF-36), ενώ των πασχόντων με το ερωτηματολόγιο SF-36 και το Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ). Οι ανησυχίες των πασχόντων και οι αρνητικές επιδράσεις της φροντίδας στην υγεία των οικείων φροντιστών αξιολογήθηκαν χρησιμοποιώντας την βαθμονομημένη κλίμακα των ανησυχιών των πασχόντων από ΙΦΝΕ ( Rating Form of IBD patient Concerns-RFIPC) και το ερωτηματολόγιο αυτοαξιολόγησης "Πώς είσαι;" ( caregiver self-assessment questionnaire “How Are You ?”- CSAQ) της Αμερικανικής Ιατρικής Εταιρείας , αντίστοιχα. Η μετάφραση του RFIPC και της CSAQ και η επακόλουθη αξιολόγηση των ιδιοτήτων μέτρησης πραγματοποιήθηκαν βάσει των διεθνών συστάσεων που προέκυψαν κατόπιν ομοφωνίας αναφορικά με την επιλογή των εργαλείων μέτρησης της υγείας (consensus based standards for the selection of the health measurement instruments- COSMIN). Η ανεξάρτητη επίδραση των χαρακτηριστικών του αντίστοιχου υποπληθυσμού συμμετεχόντων στην ολική ανικανότητα, στις ανησυχίες και στην επιβάρυνση των φροντιστών αξιολογήθηκε με γραμμική παλινδρόμηση.Αποτελέσματα: Οι ασθενείς με νόσο του Crohn (ΝΚ) εμφάνιζαν μεγαλύτερη ολική ανικανότητα σε σύγκριση με εκείνους που έπασχαν από ΕΚ (19,22 έναντι 15,01, p = 0,001), με τις υψηλότερες βαθμολογίες να σημειώνονται στους τομείς των σχέσεων, των δραστηριοτήτων ζωής και της συμμετοχής. Η ανικανότητα συνδεόταν αρνητικά με την ΠΖ (p <0,001). Η μακρά ενεργότητα, η εκτεταμένη νόσος, η διαμονή σε αγροτική περιοχή και η ολική απασχόληση επηρέαζαν ανεξάρτητα την ολική ανικανότητα και στις δύο ομάδες των ασθενών. Επιπλέον, σημαντικές επιδράσεις καταγράφηκαν για το χαμηλό επίπεδο εκπαίδευσης στην ΕΚ και για το ιστορικό χειρουργικών επεμβάσεων και την αγαμία στην ομάδα της ΝΚ. Η εγκυρότητα και η αξιοπιστία ήταν υψηλή και για τα δύο ερωτηματολόγια. Τα αποτελέσματα του RFIPC σχετίζονταν αρνητικά με την ΠΖ (p <0,001). Ανησυχίες αναφορικά με την άγνωστη φύση της ασθένειας, την απώλεια αυτοέλεγχου, την πρόσβαση σε ποιοτική υγειονομική περίθαλψη, τις παρενέργειες της θεραπείας και το επίπεδο ενέργειας κυριαρχούσαν στον πληθυσμό μας. Η ενεργός νόσος, η πλήρης απασχόληση, η αγαμία και το χαμηλό επίπεδο εκπαίδευσης σχετίζονταν με υψηλότερο επίπεδο σχετικών με την ασθένεια ανησυχιών. Το 50,8% των φροντιστών βρέθηκε να χρήζει ανάγκης υποστήριξης. Η πλειοψηφία των φροντιστών ήταν γυναίκες μέσης ηλικίας με δευτεροβάθμια εκπαίδευση και πλήρης απασχόληση. Το 76,8% του πληθυσμού ήταν έγγαμοι με παιδιά. Το 64,1% ήταν συγγενείς πρώτου βαθμού,ενώ κανένας από τους φροντιστές δεν ήταν επαγγελματίας. Το 37% είχε επιπλέον βοήθεια όταν ένιωθε ότι την χρειαζόταν. Υψηλός επιπολασμός άγχους (64%) και αισθήματος απώλειας της ευεξίας (53%) καταγράφηκε μεταξύ των φροντιστών. Η ανάγκη για υποστήριξη συσχετίστηκε έντονα με αυξημένο επίπεδο στρες (r = 0,848, p = 0,001), μειωμένη ευεξία (r = 0,936, p = 0,001) και χειρότερη ΠΖ (r> 0,8, p = 0,001) στους φροντιστές. Η ενεργός νόσος (β = 0,521, p = 0,001), η νοσηλεία των φροντιζομένων στην κλινική (β = 0,250, p = 0,001) και η έλλειψη άλλου φροντιστή (β = 0.124, p = 0.027) σχετίζονταν ανεξάρτητα με την αυξημένη ανάγκη των φροντιστών για ανακούφιση από την φροντίδα.Συμπεράσματα: Λαμβάνοντας υπόψη τους πιθανούς περιορισμούς της παρούσας μελέτης,1. Οι ασθενείς με ΝΚ συναντούσαν περισσότερους περιορισμούς στην καθημερινή τους ζωή σε σύγκριση με εκείνους που έπασχαν από ΕΚ, ειδικά στους τομείς των σχέσεων, των δραστηριοτήτων και της συμμετοχής,2. εκτός από τους παράγοντες που σχετίζονται με τη νόσο, τα κοινωνικοδημογραφικά χαρακτηριστικά σχετίζονταν αρνητικά με την ολική ανικανότητα των πασχόντων,3. ο καθορισμός του προφίλ των λειτουργικών περιορισμών των ασθενών με ΙΦΝΕ δύναται να έχει ιδιαίτερη σημασία για τους επαγγελματίες υγείας κατά το σχεδιασμό και την οργάνωση παρεμβάσεων που έχουν ως στόχο τη βελτίωση ή την πρόληψη της σχετιζόμενης με τα ΙΦΝΕ ανικανότητας,4. οι ελληνικές εκδόσεις του RFIPC και του CSAQ είναι έγκυρες και αξιόπιστες και μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν σε μελλοντικές μελέτες,5. ανησυχίες που σχετίζονται με την άγνωστη φύση της νόσου, την απώλεια αυτοέλεγχου, την πρόσβαση στην ποιοτική υγειονομική περίθαλψη, τις παρενέργειες της θεραπείας και το ενεργειακό επίπεδο κυριάρχησαν στον πληθυσμό των ασθενών μας,6. εκτός από την ενεργό νόσο, το χαμηλό επίπεδο εκπαίδευσης, η αγαμία και η ολική απασχόληση βρέθηκε ότι σχετίζονται με υψηλότερα επίπεδα ανησυχιών στον πληθυσμό μας, υποδεικνύοντας πιθανές ομάδες-στόχους για μελλοντικές παρεμβάσεις,7. υψηλό ποσοστό των φροντιστών είχε επηρεαστεί αρνητικά από την εμπειρία της φροντίδας, με παρόμοιο ποσοστό να έχει ανάγκη υποστήριξης και να βιώνει υψηλό στρες,8. οι υποτροπές της νόσου, η νοσηλεία των φροντιζομένων και η απουσία άλλου φροντιστή σχετίστηκαν με αυξημένη επιβάρυνση των φροντιστών,9. η υποστήριξη των οικείων φροντιστών δύναται, όχι μόνο να μειώσει το επίπεδο του στρες που βιώνουν, αλλά και να βελτιώσει το επίπεδο ευεξίας και την ΠΖ.

The Mental Health of Elderly Couples II. Concordance for Psychiatric Morbidity in Spouses

1987 ◽  
Vol 150 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Eagles ◽  
L. G. Walker ◽  
G. W. Blackwood ◽  
J. A. G. Beattie ◽  
D. B. Restall
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Health ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
The Self ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Health Questionnaire ◽  
Self Assessment

A community sample of elderly married couples completed the 60-item General Health Questionnaire and the Leeds General Scales for the Self-Assessment of Depression and Anxiety. Significant concordance was demonstrated between the spouses' scores on these scales. Concordance was higher for depression than for anxiety. There was little to support previous findings that wives are more likely than husbands to be concordant with an ill spouse. The spouse concordance rates for psychiatric morbidity were similar to those found in studies of younger married couples.

scholarly journals Establishing the content validity of an online depression screening tool for South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasneem Hassem
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Content Validity ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Mobile Internet ◽  
Depression Screening ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Measurement Instruments ◽  
Health Measurement

Depression is a global concern as with an estimated 300 million individuals worldwide experiencing depression. In South Africa, the prevalence rate of depression is estimated at 9.7% of the population. With the increase in mobile internet usage in South Africa, an online depression screening tool could provide opportunities for the screening of depression symptoms aiding access to mental health interventions. This project identified an open access tool for screening depression, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale – Revised (CESD-R), and adapted it for online use by the adult South African population. This study followed on from the adaptation phase on the CESD-R and aimed to determine the content validity of the adapted CESD-R for online use in South Africa using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) methodology. The study followed a two-phased design. Study one utilised a qualitative approach, where 50 experts commented on the content validity of the tool. The results were used to further adapt the tool which resulted in a 20-item depression screening tool. Study two followed a quantitative design in order to establish the content validity in terms of determining the Content Validity Ratios, Item-Content Validity Index as well as the Kappa Statistic of the 20 items. Based on these statistics, 19 of the 20 items were retained. Overall, the adapted online depression screening tool displays good content validity and holds potential as a screening tool where access to mental health may be limited.

Psychometric properties of global mental health literacy measures

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Fulcher ◽  
Helen Pote
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Construct Validity ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Measurement Instruments ◽  
Health Measurement ◽  
Initial Development ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Since its initial development, numerous mental health literacy (MHL) definitions and associated measures have been created which have yet to be adequately evaluated. This paper aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of global MHL measures with the aim of identifying the most valid, reliable, responsive and interpretable measure. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review was conducted of studies that evaluated global MHL measures against at least one of the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) taxonomy properties; validity, reliability, responsivity or interpretability. Findings In total, 13 studies were identified which examined the psychometric properties of 7 MHL measures. Two of these seven measures were vignette format and the remaining five measures were questionnaires. The mental health promoting knowledge-10 and the multicomponent mental health literacy measure were the most psychometrically robust global MHL measures as they had the most psychometric properties rated as adequate. Both were shown to have adequate structural validity, internal consistency and construct validity. The two vignette measures, the MHL tool for the workplace and the vignette MHL measure, were both shown to only have adequate evidence for construct validity. Originality/value The current study is the first to systematically review research that evaluated the psychometric properties of global measures of MHL.

Considerations of Self in Recognising Prior Learning and Credentialing

2016 ◽  
pp. 187-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloyd Hawkeye Robertson ◽  
Dianne Conrad
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
The Self ◽  
Educational Strategies ◽  
Prior Learning ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Educational Domain ◽  
Self Development ◽  
Recognition Of Prior Learning ◽  
The Individual

Discussions about recognition of prior learning (RPL) and credentialing frequently focus on issues of equivalency and rigour, rather than the effects of assessment on self-structure. Yet, such processes invite reflexive self-assessment that results in either a conformational or destabilising effect on self-identity. Those interested in RPL therefore need to understand how the process impacts on self and how learner needs associated with those impacts may be met. This chapter explores the self as a sub-text within the RPL process and argues that learners should be viewed as holistic and complex beings and that educational strategies can meet multiple objectives that extend beyond the educational domain, potentially creating an overlap with learners' mental health. The authors encourage policies and practices that validate the individual and enhance the possibility of developmental self-growth. A learner-centred ethic that meets the dual needs of learners to obtain credit and achieve self-development is proposed.

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