Screening for psychological distress on Indonesian type 2 diabetes: A validation study.

Aim: This study aimed to test the validity and reliability of a four‐item patient health questionnaire as a psychological distress screening tool for patients with type 2 diabetes in Indonesia. Methods: This cross‐cultural adaptation study was applied in five public health‐care centres in Indonesia in August–October 2018 using a four‐item patient health questionnaire. The content, convergent and factorial validity were assessed, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was the reliability indicator. Results: A total of 147 participants were involved. Content validity resulted in acceptable outcomes (item and scale content validity indexes were 0.95 and 0.75, respectively). Anxiety and depression were associated with total score and psychological distress status (P < 0.001), supporting the convergent validity outcomes. Principal component analysis using varimax rotation revealed two factors, explaining 76.14% of variance (P < 0.001). Cronbach's alpha coefficients for anxiety, depression and total score were 0.780, 0.500 and 0.713, respectively. Conclusions: The study demonstrated adequate validity and reliability for the Indonesian version of a four‐item patient health questionnaire among patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is applicable as a screening tool for psychological distress in this population. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Anxiety and depression are common forms of psychological distress among patients with type 2 diabetes.Early identification of potential problems in diabetes benefits patients for prevention and treatment.A four‐item patient health questionnaire (PHQ4) is a valid tool for screening psychological distress. What this paper adds? The paper presents a psychometric evaluation of PHQ4 to assess psychological distress among patients with type 2 diabetes.Incidence of anxiety, depression and psychological distress for patients with diabetes in Indonesia was identified. The implications of this paper: Diabetes nurse specialists or nurse managers could consider using the Indonesian version of PHQ4 in their units.The availability of this screening tool in Indonesia makes identification of psychological distress possible.Further research and education related to psychological distress among patients with diabetes may use the valid PHQ4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]