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K ennedy A xis V : Clinimetric properties assessed by mental health nurses
Author(s) -
Faay Margo D. M.,
Sande Roland,
Gooskens Floor,
Hafsteinsdóttir Thóra B.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.911
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1447-0349
pISSN - 1445-8330
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0349.2012.00887.x
Subject(s) - inter rater reliability , intraclass correlation , mental health , medicine , neglect , psychological intervention , psychiatry , psychology , clinical psychology , psychometrics , rating scale , developmental psychology
The K ennedy A xis V is a routine outcome measurement instrument which can assist the assessment of the short‐term risk for violence and other adverse patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interrater reliability and clinical utility of the instrument when used by mental health nurses in daily care of patients with mental illness. This cross‐sectional study was conducted in inpatient and outpatient adult psychiatric care units and in one adolescent inpatient unit at a university hospital in the N etherlands. Interrater reliability was measured based on the independent scores of two different nurses for the same patients. The clinical utility of the instrument was evaluated by means of a clinical utility questionnaire. To gain a deeper understanding of rating difficulties at the adolescent unit, additional data were collected in two focus group interviews. The overall results revealed a substantial level of agreement between nurses (intraclass correlation coefficient and P earson 0.79). Some rating challenges were identified, including difficulties with scoring the instrument and using tailor‐made interventions related to the scores. These challenges can be resolved using refined training and implementation strategies. When the K ennedy A xis V is accompanied by a solid implementation strategy in adult mental health care, the instrument can be used for short‐term risk assessment and thereby contribute in efforts to reduce violence, suicide, self‐harm, severe self‐neglect, and enhanced objectivity in clinical decision‐making.