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Validity and reliability of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales in psychiatric patients in the community

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Martin Orrell ,
Paula Yard ,
Julia Handysides  and
Robert Schapira
Martin Orrell*
Affiliation:
University College, London
Paula Yard
Affiliation:
Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, Essex
Julia Handysides
Affiliation:
Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, Essex
Robert Schapira
Affiliation:
Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, Essex
*
Dr Martin Orrell, Reader in Psychiatry of Ageing, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences. University College London Medical School, Wolfson Building, 48 Riding House Street, London WIN 8AA. Tel: 01279-827260; Fax: 01279-454018; e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background

The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) have been developed for assessing the effectiveness of mental health services.

Aims

To investigate the validity and reliability of the HoNOS in patients in contact with mental health services.

Method

Subjects (age range 19–64) came from day hospitals, acute in-patient units and out-patient clinics in general practice. We obtained the opinions of experienced professionals, advocacy groups and patient groups to evaluate consensual and content validity.

Results

One hundred patients were assessed using the package of rating scales. Interrater and test–retest reliability were good for some items and poor for others. The HoNOS had good criterion validity: acute in-patients had higher scores than day patients and out-patients. HoNOS also had good concurrent validity, correlating well with other scales. Comments suggested that the HoNOS was a useful and suitable scale for this population but psychotic symptoms and certain social factors were not sufficiently covered.

Conclusion

The HoNOS had good validity but variable reliability. It may be better than existing scales because of the wide range of areas which it covers.

Type
HoNOS Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 174 , Issue 5 , May 1999 , pp. 409 - 412
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

Declaration of interest

Funded by Hertfordshire Health Agency.

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