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Development and quality analysis of the Salutogenic Health Indicator Scale (SHIS)

School of Health and Society, Kristianstad University College, Kristianstad, Sweden, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, asa.bringsen{at}hkr.se

H. Ingemar Andersson

School of Health and Society, Kristianstad University College, Kristianstad, Sweden

Göran Ejlertsson

School of Health and Society, Kristianstad University College, Kristianstad, Sweden

Background: Current health measurement instruments tend to measure aspects of ill-health rather than health in general. There is a need for a salutogenic perspective when describing health and developing a health measurement instrument. The aim of this article is to present the development process and quality assessment of a salutogenic health indicator scale. Methods: A description of health, emanating from the concept of health, positive health and well-being, was used as a basis for the construction of the scale. The scale is a semantic differential consisting of 12 indicator items covering nine heath-related dimensions. A principal component analysis was performed, and three health indicator indexes were constructed. Correlation with self-rated health questions was investigated, weighted kappa values were calculated, and Cronbach's alpha (CA) was used to check internal consistency. Results: The analysis resulted in a two-factor model, and the indexes were named intrapersonal characteristics (CA= 0.90) and interactive function (CA= 0.84), summarised into health complete (CA= 0.92). Kappa values ranged from 0.44 to 0.67, and correlations with self-rated health status were stronger than those with self-rated sick-leave. Conclusions: Our health description was characterized by complexity, but the instrument is a short salutogenic health indicator scale. The shortness increases the usability. The instrument seems to be able to offset the current problem of there being a lack of salutogenic health measurement instruments. The results indicate that further testing is justified.

Key Words: Health • indicator • measurement • salutogenic • well-being

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 37, No. 1, 13-19 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1403494808098919


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