Development of an instrument to measure patients’ attitudes towards involuntary hospitalization

Table 5 Experts’ ratings, and patient’s responses to the items (n = 21) of the attitudes towards involuntary admission scale

Items of the constructed list of specifications patients’ and experts’ ratings of the	Experts ratings for the relevancy of itemsa		Patients’ responsesb
	Min-Max	mean (SD)	Min-Max	mean (SD)
I think that being detained as an involuntary patient has prevented further harm to me	3-5	4.6 (0.65)	1-5	3.1 (1.90)
I believe that I was offered the opportunity to recover in a safe place	3-5	4.5 (0.66)	1-5	3.9 (1.21)
I could not recognize that I needed help when I was very ill	4-5	4.8 (0.38)	1-5	2.7 (1.50)
I felt that I was pressured excessively	4-5	4.7 (0.44)	1-5	2.5 (1.46)
My problem could have been managed without being pressured	4-5	4.6 (0.65)	1-5	3.3 (1.38)
I think that my hospitalization was not necessary at all	4-5	4.5 (0.66)	1-5	2.4 (1.36)
I think that my hospitalization was unfair	3-5	4.4 (0.96)	1-5	2.4 (1.47)
I think that the hospitalization was against my rights	3-5	4.3 (0.63)	1-5	2.4 (1.45)
I felt that I was not heard	2-5	4.4 (0.96)	1-5	2.5 (1.45)
Hospitalization against my will posed a permanent threat to my independence	3-5	4.3 (0.63)	1-5	2.3 (1.50)
My problems might have been managed through a shorter hospitalization	2-5	4.3 (0.85)	1-5	3.6 (1.40)
My problems might have been managed through a voluntary hospitalization	3-5	4.6 (0.66)	1-5	2.9 (1.44)
This admission had a negative impact upon the relationship with my family	2-5	4.4 (0.96)	1-5	2.2 (1.41)
My relationship with my psychiatrist was negatively impacted by this involuntary admission	3-5	4.4 (0.65)	1-5	1.9 (1.29)
I felt that that my current or future job could be affected by being in hospital against my will	3-5	4.2 (1.2)	1-5	2.5 (1.48)
I know my rights as an involuntary patient	2-5	4.7 (0.48)	1-5	3.4 (1.51)
I was given passes and other privileges outside the unit when my doctors felt it was ok	3-5	4.5 (1.1)	1-5	4.3 (1.12)
Admission to hospital was a humiliating experience	1-5	4.3 (0.85)	1-5	2.6 (1.48)
I was given the chance to appeal my involuntary admission	4-5	4.5 (0.66)	1-5	3.2 (1.50)
Overall, I was treated with respect during this admission	2-5	4.6 (0.51)	1-5	3.9 (1.20)
I think my family should have been involved in the decision about my admission	1-5	4.6 (0.51)	1-5	3.2 (1.51)
Mean (SD) for the total samples	2.8-5	4.5 (0.70)	1-5	2.9 (1.2)

^aExperts’ responses: 1 = extremely irrelevant to 5 = very relevant;

^bStudents’ responses: 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree.