Development and Validation of Self-Recorded Swasthya Assessment Scale

Abstract

Background: The Self-Recorded Swasthya Assessment Scale (SRSAS) is intended to develop a comprehensive questionnaire to assess the health status of an individual. SRSAS has three sections, namely physical, mental, and social health. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire has been prepared based on physical, mental, and social health parameters. In section 1, the questions of the physical fitness component are derived from International Fitness Scale and the questions of physical ill-health component are prepared on the basis of Swastha criteria described in literature from Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Kashyapa Samhita. In section 2, the mental toughness questions are prepared based on Ayurveda parameters and MTQ-48 and mental ill-health questions are prepared from Ayurveda parameters and guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association (2013), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition. The health status will be assessed based on the self-recorded response of the subjects. The time frame for the questions is the PAST WEEK. The questionnaire is designed to assess subject's USUAL abilities in their routine environment. Results: The questionnaire was administrated on 117 individuals. The data collected were statistically analyzed for internal consistency by Cronbach's alpha and for sampling adequacy by Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) test. The Cronbach's alpha for the fitness group of questions and ill-health group of questions were 0.832 and 0.799, respectively. The KMO value for the fitness group of questions and ill-health group of questions were 0.791 and 0.588, respectively. Conclusion: The Cronbach's alpha and KMO value showing the internal consistency and sampling adequacy are acceptable. It is concluded that the questionnaire is reliable and valid to use to assess the health status of an individual according to Ayurveda.