Jengliang Eric Hwang; Reliability of the Health Enhancement Lifestyle Profile–Screener (HELP–Screener). Am J Occup Ther 2013;67(1):e6–e10. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2013.005934
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© 2019 American Occupational Therapy Association
This study examined reliability of the Health Enhancement Lifestyle Profile–Screener (HELP–Screener), a 15-item self-report questionnaire serving as an initial screening of lifestyle behaviors for older adults. The internal consistency of HELP–Screener was analyzed using data derived from a sample of 483 older adults. The resultant Cronbach’s α coefficient of .74 indicated an acceptable level of internal consistency. The test–retest reliability study with 90 participants yielded an intraclass correlation coefficient of .93, indicating a high degree of temporal stability of the instrument at the scale level. Moreover, good to excellent degrees of agreement found through the κ statistic (ks = .76–.96) and percentage of agreement (96%–99%) between the test and retest scores of each item further supported HELP–Screener’s test–retest reliability at the item level. Future studies should determine other aspects of psychometric properties and clinical suitability of this new instrument.
I exercise more than twice a week.
I frequently avoid those foods high in fat, cholesterol, sodium, or sugar (e.g., red meat, butter, eggs, canned soup, desserts).
I engage in my religious/spiritual activities at least once a week.
I pursue my hobbies at least once a week.
The 15-item HELP–Screener (Hwang, 2012) was designed to serve as a quick initial screen that would indicate whether further evaluation with the original 56-item HELP (Hwang, 2010b, 2010c) is necessary.
Occupational therapy practitioners working with older adults in various clinical settings can benefit from using such a short, wide-ranging lifestyle screening as part of their routine evaluation.
The further evaluation using the 56-item HELP can provide a more in-depth understanding of particular areas of a respondent’s life warranting lifestyle modifications or regimens. Consequently, a variety of health-promoting occupations can be facilitated among older clients to provide opportunities for enhanced levels of health and wellness.
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