The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to a serious and uncertain condition, including an abrupt national economy and increased psychological distress especially among vulnerable population such as people living with HIV (PLHIV). Fear of infection, prolonged lockdown and isolation, and stigma merged with mental health burden for this group. This study aims to develop and validate a questionnaire assessing the psychological impact and fearfulness related to COVID-19 among HIV patients. The questionnaire was developed through a comprehensive literature review, followed by expert validation and statistical reliability testing. Content and face validity were conducted by medical, psychological, and public health professionals. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were analysed using Cronbach’s alpha and Spearman correlation. The final questionnaire included two domains: psychological impact (10 items) and fearfulness (14 items), each with a Scale-Content Validity Index (S-CVI) of 1.0. Face validity scores exceeded 90% in clarity, readability, and layout. Cronbach’s alpha for psychological impact and fearfulness was 0.81 and 0.92, respectively. A test-retest correlation coefficient of 0.728 indicated strong stability. In conclusion, this validated questionnaire is a reliable tool for measuring psychological and emotional responses to COVID-19 among HIV patients, offering insight into their mental health needs during public health crises.
Rizal et al. (Thu,) studied this question.