Short communication: reliability and validity of the UKU Side Effect Rating Scale for adults with intellectual disabilities
Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities
ISSN: 2044-1282
Article publication date: 3 May 2016
Abstract
Purpose
The UKU side effect rating scale for adults with intellectual disabilities (UKU-SERS-ID) was developed to detect side effects among patients with intellectual disabilities (ID). The purpose of this paper is to examine the reliability and face validity of the UKU-SERS-ID.
Design/methodology/approach
UKU-SERS-ID comprises 35 items. In total, 22 patients with ID were included from two specialized services for adults with ID and comorbid mental illness. All patients were rated on three different occasions by three clinicians; two nurses and one medical doctor. Reliability was estimated with Cohen’s κ. A focus group discussed the face validity of the items comprising the UKU-SERS-ID.
Findings
Respectively ten (nurse-nurse scores) and eight (nurse-doctor scores) items were considered difficult to score due to low prevalence of the symptoms. For the other items the reliability was acceptable. Through discussion in a focus group, with the reliability scores in mind, only one of the items of the UKU-SERS-ID was discarded.
Practical implications
The authors have developed a feasible side effect instrument for clinical practice. It is easy to score and relevant regarding important side effects.
Originality/value
The UKU-SERS-ID seems to be a feasible tool. Further investigations are mandatory in order to gain knowledge about distribution and phenomenology of side effects from psychotropic medication for individuals with ID.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the patients and the staff in the institutions for participating. The authors would also like to thank Eva Malt MD, Consultant in psychiatry, for pointing out the importance that this study be undertaken. The authors would also like to thank MSc Stefania Salvatore (Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, SERAF) for help with the statistical analysis.
Citation
Tveter, A.L., Bakken, T.L., Røssberg, J.I., Bech-Pedersen, E. and Bramness, J.G. (2016), "Short communication: reliability and validity of the UKU Side Effect Rating Scale for adults with intellectual disabilities", Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 166-171. https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-10-2015-0051
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited