Abstract
BackgroundLengthy questionnaires reduce data quality and impose a burden on respondents. Previous researchers proposed that a single item ("My future seems dark to me") and a 4-item component of the Beck's Hopelessness Scale (BHS) can summarise most of the information the BHS provides. There is no clear indication of what BHS cutoff values are useful in identifying people with suicide tendency.MethodsIn a population-based study of Chinese people aged between 15 and 59 in Hong Kong, the Chinese version of the BHS and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression scale were administered by trained interviewers and suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts were self-reported. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis and regression analysis were used to compare the performance of the BHS and its components in identifying people with suicidality and depression. Smoothed level of suicidal tendency was assessed in relation to scores on the BHS and its component to identify thresholds.ResultsIt is found that the 4-item component and, to a lesser extent, the single item of the BHS perform in ways similar to the BHS. There are non-linear relationship between suicidality and scores on the BHS and the 4-item component; cutoff values identified accordingly have sensitivity and specificity of about 65%.ConclusionThe 4-item component is a useful alternative to the BHS. Shortening of psycho-social measurement scales should be considered in order to reduce burden on patients or respondents and to improve response rate.
Highlights
Lengthy questionnaires reduce data quality and impose a burden on respondents
The present study aims to shed light on the characteristics of the 20-item Beck's Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and item 7 and the 4-item component of the BHS in relation to detecting suicidal ideation and suicidal attempt in the last 12 months and current depression as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression Scale (CES-D) [22]
Measures The survey began with a face-to-face interview, which included the Chinese version of the BHS [10] and the CES-D, among other things
Summary
Survey design This is a cross-sectional, community-based survey of the local resident population (between 15 and 59 years of age) of Hong Kong. The sampling frame employed was based on the Frame of Quarters maintained by the Census and Statistics Department, which constitutes the most complete and up-to-date register of residential addresses in Hong Kong. The demographic profile of this sample was found to be similar to those of the Hong Kong general population of that age range. Measures The survey began with a face-to-face interview, which included the Chinese version of the BHS ( known as C-HOPE) [10] and the CES-D, among other things. A Chinese version of the CES-D has been validated and used in Hong Kong [24,25]. Statistical analysis We performed receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis using the scores on the BHS, the item 7, and the 4-item component to differentiate respondents with and without suicidal ideation and suicidal attempt in the last 12 months. The statistical package STATA Version 8 (SataCorp, College Station, 2001) was used
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