Scale Overview
The Sexual Health Knowledge Questionnaire for HIV+ MSM – SHKQ was developed by Peter A. Vanable, Jennifer L. Brown, Michael P. Carey, Rebecca A. Bostwick (2009). It is designed to measure Sexual Health Knowledge. The scale is intended for use with HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 18 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: True = True, False = False, Don’t Know = Don't Know.
The scale includes 7 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 18. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Knowledge: 0 – 12
- High Knowledge: 13 – 18
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Test-retest reliability of .78.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.