Scale Overview
The Sexual Health Knowledge Questionnaire for HIV+ MSM – SHKQ was developed by Peter A. Vanable, Jennifer L. Brown, Michael P. Carey, and Rebecca A. Bostwick (2009). It is designed to measure Sexual Health Knowledge. The scale is intended for use with HIV+ 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:
- Total Score (Number of correct answers): 0 – 18
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Test-retest r = 0.78.
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.