Development, Feasibility Testing, and Preliminary Psychometric Evaluation of a Suicide Assessment Confidence Survey for Master of Social Work Students

Suicide assessment is a critical competency for social work practitioners, yet few instruments exist to assess suicide assessment confidence among Master of Social Work (MSW) students. This early-stage feasibility and preliminary psychometric study examined the initial performance of the Suicide Assessment Confidence (SAC) Survey prior to its use in simulation-based suicide assessment training. The 14-item Suicide Assessment Confidence (SAC) Survey was adapted from the Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory (COSE) and was administered online to asynchronous MSW students (N = 153; response rate: 20.9%) at two time points. Preliminary analyses using Time Point 1 responses (n = 32) demonstrated strong internal consistency for the total scale (α = .88), with subscale reliabilities ranging from .67 to .84. Matched responses across time points (n = 21) demonstrated strong overall SAC Survey temporal stability (rs = .740), while the three subscales demonstrated moderate to strong temporal stability (rs = .498–.792). Exploratory factor analysis suggested a potential 12-item, three-factor structure comprising Cognitive-Perceptual Skills, Social/Behavioral Engagement, and Diagnostic-Behavioral Integration. Findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the feasibility and potential utility of the SAC Survey.