Validity and Reliability of the Self-reporting Questionnaire 20 Items in Vietnam

Abstract

Objective: The demand for inclusion of mental health measures in general health and well-being community-based surveys in developing countries is increasing. In a previous survey of child well-being in Vietnam, a measure of maternal mental health was included. This was the first use of the Self-reporting Questionnaire 20 items in Vietnam, and tested its validity and reliability. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Self-reporting Questionnaire 20 items in Vietnam, to identify a cut-off point to determine cases, and to assess the inter-rater reliability. Patients and Methods: Double-blind assessment was conducted for 66 rural women, half of whom had been identified as patients with mental ill health by the Self-reporting Questionnaire 20 items in a community-based survey in 2002 and half of whom were controls. In-depth Vietnamese psychiatric appraisal and the Self-reporting Questionnaire 20 items were used for all the women. Repeat interviews were performed with the Self-reporting Questionnaire 20 items by 3 different interviewers within 24 hours. Results: Using a cut off of 7/8, sensitivity was 73% and specificity was 82%. Inter-rater reliability combined κ was 0.79. Conclusions: This study validated the first reliable, cheap, and easy-to-use, community-based measure of mental health for Vietnam