Text Comprehension Analyses to Improve Assessment Accuracy: Demonstration Using Gambling Disorder Screening

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Many individuals with addictive disorders have limited formal education.
• Current self-report questionnaires often lack clarity and comprehension, hindering accurate diagnosis.
• Disadvantaged groups are disproportionately affected by addictive disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a diagnostic questionnaire for addictive disorders using advanced text analysis to maximize readability and comprehension.
• To test the accuracy of this enhanced readability questionnaire compared to a standard instrument.
• To examine the relationship between educational attainment and symptom identification.

Main Methods:

• Study 1: Developed a gambling disorder symptom questionnaire applying best practices for item clarity and comprehension.
• Study 2: Employed an experimental design comparing the enhanced questionnaire against a common screening tool.
• Assessed diagnostic symptom accuracy across participants with varying educational backgrounds.

Main Results:

• Enhanced questionnaire readability improved the correct identification of gambling disorder symptoms.
• Participants accurately identified more symptoms using the maximized readability questionnaire, irrespective of education level.
• Educational attainment was positively correlated with item comprehension.

Conclusions:

• Questionnaire readability is a critical factor in accurately identifying psychopathology symptoms.
• Tailoring diagnostic tools for clarity can improve diagnostic accuracy across diverse educational levels.
• Accessible language in self-report measures is essential for equitable mental health assessments.