Initial validation of the Chinese interRAI Mental Health in people with psychiatric illness

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the Chinese interRAI Mental Health (MH) among people with psychiatric illnesses. METHODS: Study participants were 157 individuals with psychiatric illnesses living in a psychiatric long-term care facility or halfway house in Hong Kong. The authors prepared the Chinese interRAI MH. A panel of bilingual healthcare professionals examined the quality of the translation. The reliability of the 6 scales embedded in the instrument was examined using Cronbach's alphas, intraclass correlations, and Kappa coefficients. Pearson's product moment correlations, Spearman's order correlations, and independent t-tests were used to determine the concurrent and construct validity of the scales. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Internal consistency values (alpha = 0.66-0.95) and test-retest reliability coefficients (ICC = 0.76-0.97; kappa = 0.75-1.00) of the scales were found to be satisfactory. All 6 scales correlated significantly with the criterion measures. As expected, 3 scales relating to cognition, activities of daily living (ADL), and instrumental ADL discriminated among individuals living in two types of residential setting. Chinese interRAI MH was found to be a valid and reliable tool useful for the clinicians in Hong Kong.