Psychometric properties of a brief self-report Type A questionnaire for use in primary health care.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a short and easily used self-report measure of Type A behaviour (Simplified Type A Questionnaire = STAQ) and to examine its capacity to predict Type A behaviour as assessed by more time-consuming measures.


METHODS
A Videotaped Structured Interview (VSI) and a self-report measure, previously validated in Sweden, were used as comparison instruments to the STAQ.


METHODS
Primary health care.


METHODS
206 (81 men and 125 women) aged 17-75 years attending a health centre during one year.


METHODS
The reliability, measured by Cronbach's alpha and split-half correlation. The specificity and sensitivity of the STAQ. The correlaiton between the STAQ and the two other diagnostic measures.


RESULTS
The reliability of the STAQ was 0.70 and 0.75, respectively. The specificity was 83% and the sensitivity 75%. The correlation between the STAQ and the VSI was 0.45. The correlation between the STAQ and the previously validated self-report was 0.61.


CONCLUSIONS
The STAQ has good psychometric properties and, in comparison with other diagnostic measurement instruments in medical service, it has an acceptable discrimination capacity.
Karlberg
L
L
Research Centre of General Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Krakau
I
I
Sjödén
P O
PO
Undén
A L
AL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010556:Personality Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012647:Self-Assessment; D014434:Type A Personality