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Psychometric Properties of Two Self-Report Suicide Assessment and Intervention Competency Measures in a Sample of Vocational Rehabilitation Support Staff

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2016

Emily M. Lund ,
Jared C. Schultz ,
Michael R. Nadorff ,
Kate Galbraith  and
Katie B. Thomas
Emily M. Lund*
Affiliation:
Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University, 940 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
Jared C. Schultz
Affiliation:
Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Utah State University, 2865 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
Michael R. Nadorff
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, PO Box 6161, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
Kate Galbraith
Affiliation:
Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, 175 North Main Street, No. 101, Heber, UT, 84049, USA
Katie B. Thomas
Affiliation:
University of California-San Diego, VA Health Care System-San Diego, University of California, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive (116B), San Diego, CA, 92161, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Emily M. Lund PhD, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University, 940 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA. E-mail: emlund@bu.edu/emily.m.lund@gmail.com.
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Abstract

We analysed the psychometric properties of two published self-report suicide assessment competency rating scales – the Suicide Competency Inventory (SCI) and the Suicide Competency Assessment Form (SCAF) – in a sample of 93 public-sector vocational rehabilitation support staff from six states in the United States. Both measures demonstrated very good to excellent internal consistency in our sample. Exploratory factor analysis with principal axis factoring indicated the SCI loads on a two-factor model in this sample, as opposed to the three-factor model proposed by the measure's authors. The SCAF loaded on a single factor, consistent with the theoretical model proposed by the original authors. The SCI and SCAF were highly correlated with each other, providing initial evidence of convergent construct validity. These results provide initial support for the use of these measures as a reliable and valid means of assessing perceived suicide assessment competency in vocational rehabilitation support staff.

Keywords

suicidecompetencysupport staffvocational rehabilitationpsychometrics
Type
Articles
Information
The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , July 2017 , pp. 52 - 68
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2016 

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