The development of functional ability assessment tool for chronic schizophrenia

Abstract

Abstract

          Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of the functional ability assessment (FAA) for patients with chronic schizophrenia.

          Materials and methods Conceptual frame was gathered by interviewing groups of relatives, focus group discussion among multidisciplinary psychiatric teams and related research. Psychometric properties were assessed included index of item objective congruence (IOC), content validity, inter-rater reliability, test retest reliability. FAA was tried in 162 patients with chronic schizophrenia inpatient of Srithanya Hospital. Data was analyzed with statistics of Intraclass correlation and t-test.

          Results FAA for patients with chronic schizophrenia, comprised of 2 components which were 1) three areas of behavior observe check lists: 7 items of self-care, 2 items of social function and 7 items of working competency and 2) ten items interview questions about illness perception. IOC for each item and each area ranged between 0.5-.07 and total was 0.8 Inter rater reliability ranged between 0.92-0.98, one week test-retest reliability was excellent in every item and area. After FAA trial assessment, the mean score in each area of patients with and without chronic schizophrenia was significantly different.

           Conclusion  FAA can be used to assess the ability of patients with chronic schizophrenia and recommended to further services system.