Citation

Klinkenberg WD, Calsyn RJ, Morse GA, McCudden S, Richmond T, Burger GK, Petri P. Eval. Program Plann. 2003; 26(3): 275-282.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0149-7189(03)00031-4

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Few studies have examined methodological issues for self-reported sexual and substance-using behaviors for persons with severe mental illness (SMI). In this study we examined the impact of using face-to-face interviews (FTFIs) or self-administered questionnaires (SAQs) on the frequencies of self-reported sexual and substance-using behaviors. In addition, we examined the reliability of four commonly used predictors of HIV risk. Both assessment methods yielded generally equivalent estimates of the frequency with which participants engaged in a number of sexual and substance-using behaviors, although there were some trends toward differences that failed to reach statistical significance. Internal consistency was equivalent for three of the four measures; the knowledge of HIV transmission risk factors scale had significantly lower internal consistency in the FTFI condition. It is concluded that data from the two methods yield relatively equivalent results for persons with SMI and that when self-reported frequencies are different, the effect size is small. Researchers must balance many factors, including administration costs, when deciding which method to use.