Development and validation of the self-neglect questionnaire for Chinese hospitalized older adults

This study developed the Self-neglect Questionnaire for Chinese Hospitalized Older Adults (SNQ-CHOA) and evaluated its psychometric properties. The questionnaire development followed two phases. Phase 1 included item pool construction, content validity examination and pilot study. In phase 2, the validation and reliability were evaluated among 435 hospitalized older adults. The final questionnaire yielded six dimensions with 24 items: environmental neglect (3 items), medical neglect (8 items), psychological neglect (2 items), security neglect (3 items), socialization neglect (4 items), and nutritional neglect (4 items). Significantly positive correlations with the Abrams geriatric self-neglect scale (r= 0.68) supported the concurrent validity of the scale. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability were acceptable (Cronbach's α = 0.86, intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.99). The SNQ-CHOA is a valid and reliable tool for assessing self-neglect among Chinese hospitalized older adults.