Herth Hope Index: A Psychometric Evaluation Study within a Sample of
Greek Patients with Cancer
Nikoloudi, Maria
Tsilika, Eleni
Parpa, Efi
Kostopoulou,
Sotiria
Tentolouris, Anastasios
Psarros, Constantin and
Alexandra, Mantoudi
Mystakidou, Kyriaki
Objectives: This study aims to develop the Greek version of the Herth
Hope Index (HHI) and assess its psychometric properties to a palliative
care patient sample, using a cross-sectional design.
Materials and Methods: The HHI was translated into Greek (HHI-Gr) using
the ‘forward-backward’ procedure. It was administered to 130 eligible
cancer patients, while for the stability of patients’ responses, 40 of
these patients completed the HHI-Gr 3 days later. Along with the HHI-Gr,
patients also completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
and the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). The HHI-Gr internal consistency
reliability (Cronbach’s a), stability (intraclass correlation
coefficient [ICC]), factor structure (factor analysis) and convergent
validity (correlation with the HADS and the BHS questionnaires) were
examined using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance
status.
Results: The HHI-Gr yielded a one-factor model and a Cronbach alpha
(0.860) with excellent internal consistency reliability and stability
ICC (>0.90). Satisfactory convergent validity was supported by the
correlation analysis between the HHI-Gr and BHS (r = 0.718, P < 0.001).
Overall test-retest reliability was satisfactory with a range between
0.77 and 0.96 (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the HHI-Gr is an instrument
with satisfactory psychometric properties and is a valid research tool
for the measurement of the levels of hope among Greek oncology patients.
(EN)
