Difference in prevalence of common mental disorder as measured using four questionnaire delivery methods among young people in rural Zimbabwe

作者：Langhaug Lisa F^*; Cheung Yin Bun; Pascoe Sophie; Hayes Richard; Cowan Frances M

来源：Journal of Affective Disorders, 2009, 118(1-3): 220-223.

DOI：10.1016/j.jad.2009.02.003

• Randomised controlled trial
• Mental health
• Measurement
• Adolescents
• Zimbabwe

Background: Previous studies have suggested that interviewer-ad ministered questionnaires can under-estimate the prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation when compared with self-administered ones. We report here on differences in prevalence of reporting mental health between four questionnaire delivery modes (QDM).
Methods: Mental health was assessed using the Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ), a locally validated 14-item indigenous measure for common mental affective disorders. A representative sample of 1495 rural Zimbabwean adolescents (median age 18) was randomly allocated to one of four questionnaire delivery modes: self-administered questionnaire (SAQ), SAQ with audio (AASI), interviewer-ad ministered questionnaire (IAQ), and audio computer-assisted survey instrument (ACASI).
Results: Prevalence of common affective disorders varied between QDM (52.3%, 48.6%, 41.5%, and 63.6% for SAO, AASI, LAQ, and ACASI respectively (P<0.001)). Fewer participants failed to complete SSQ using IAQ and ACASI than other methods (1.6% vs. 12.3%; P<0.001). Qualitative data suggested that respondents found it difficult answering questions honestly in front of an interviewer.
Limitations: Direction of accuracy cannot be ascertained due to lack of objective or clinical assessments of affective disorders.
Conclusions: Estimates of prevalence of psychosomatic symptoms and suicidal ideation varied according to mode of interview. As each mode's direction of accuracy remains unresolved evaluations of interventions continue to be hampered.

• 出版日期2009-11