Psychometric validation of the Hospital Stress Questionnaire.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Health Services Research
• Medical Sociology

Background:

• Psychological stress in hospital inpatients correlates with adverse post-discharge outcomes.
• Valid measurement tools are crucial for research and interventions targeting in-hospital stress.
• The Hospital Stress Questionnaire (HSQ) was developed to address this need.

Purpose of the Study:

• To psychometrically validate the Hospital Stress Questionnaire (HSQ).
• To identify latent factors within the HSQ.
• To develop and assess shorter versions of the HSQ for broader applicability.

Main Methods:

• A nationally representative sample of 660 NHS hospital inpatients completed the HSQ.
• Psychometric properties including factor structure, convergent validity, known-groups validity, predictive validity, and test-retest reliability were assessed.
• A subsample (n=32) completed the HSQ a second time after two weeks to assess reliability.

Main Results:

• Seven distinct domains of in-hospital stress were identified: quality of care, separation from home, inconvenience, health anxiety, treatment side effects, ward environment, and disrupted patient experience.
• Long (55-item), medium (28-item), and short (10-item) versions of the HSQ were developed, all demonstrating excellent psychometric properties.
• Poor sleep emerged as the most significant stressor reported by patients.

Conclusions:

• The Hospital Stress Questionnaire (HSQ) is a psychometrically sound and reliable instrument for measuring inpatient stress.
• The HSQ can be utilized by researchers and clinicians to inform intervention studies aimed at reducing hospital-related stress.
• The tool can help identify patients susceptible to post-hospital syndrome, enabling targeted support.