HESPER web - development and reliability evaluation of a web-based version of the humanitarian emergency settings perceived needs scale

Abstract

Background: The Humanitarian Emergency Settings Perceived Needs Scale (HESPER) assesses a wide range of physical, psychological and social perceived needs across 26 questions, and can be used in humanitarian emergencies and disasters for needs assessment or research studies. The original HESPER collects data through individual interviews. Today, a large number of people have access to the internet, including in humanitarian emergencies and disasters. Therefore, this paper aimed to report the development, reliability evaluation and feasibility evaluation of the HESPER Web. Methods: First, the original HESPER was developed into a web based survey. Thereafter, alternate forms reliability between the HESPER and HESPER Web, and test-retest reliability for the HESPER Web, was evaluated using a study sample of 85 asylum seekers in Sweden in total. Results: The alternate forms reliability evaluation showed that the HESPER Web was a reliable instrument to assess perceived needs. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for total number of serious needs was 0.96 (CI 0.93-09.98, p < 0.001). Cohen's κ was used to analyse the alternate forms reliability between the HESPER and HESPER Web item per item; the correspondence between HESPER and HESPER Web varied between 0.54 and 1.0 for the 26 questions. There was a strong nominal association in first priority need between the HESPER and HESPER Web (Cramer's V 0.845, p < 0.001). In the test-retest reliability evaluation of HESPER Web, ICC was 0.98 (CI 0.97-0.99, p < 0.001), and Cohen's κ varied between 0.53 and 1.0. There was a strong nominal association in first priority need between test and re-test (Cramer's V 0.93, p < 0.001). The HESPER Web was experienced as easy and safe to use and was found less time consuming than the original HESPER interview, according to the study participants. Conclusion: The HESPER Web is a reliable and usable instrument to assess perceived needs. It can reduce a number of practical challenges both for needs assessment in disasters or humanitarian emergencies as well as in research.

Perceived Needs Among Asylum Seekers in Sweden: A Mixed Methods Study

“…An explanatory sequential mixed methods study design [12] was used. The quantitative part consisted of a descriptive, cross-sectional, web-based survey, using data collected for a psychometric evaluation of the Humanitarian Emergency Settings Perceived Needs Scale (HESPER) Web, which has been presented elsewhere [13]. The qualitative part consisted of focus group interviews analysed using a theoretical thematic analysis [14].…”

“…The survey further requests the respondent's gender, age, current location, and country of origin. The development and psychometric evaluation of the HESPER Web has been reported elsewhere [13].…”

“…Data were collected as part of a study that aimed to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the HESPER Web [13]. The data used in this study consisted of the individual answers given when the study participants answered the HESPER Web survey for the first time, either as part of an alternative forms evaluation or as the first data collection in a test-retest evaluation [13]. The study participants completed the survey anonymously by mobile phone, tablet, or computer.…”

The Reliability and Feasibility of the HESPER Web to Assess Perceived Needs in a Population Affected by a Humanitarian Emergency

“…Internet-based data gathering offers quicker data collection and analysis and fewer internal dropouts and processing errors, and is often a more economical alternative to other types of surveys [ 10 ]. To combine the strengths of Internet-based data collections and a scale measuring perceived needs among humanitarian populations, we developed HESPER Web, a self-administrated web-based version of the original HESPER [ 11 ]. The HESPER Web can be administrated through a web link and answered on a computer, tablet or mobile phone and the first psychometric evaluation of HESPER Web showed very good reliability and feasibility among a study sample of asylum seekers in Sweden [ 11 ].…”

“…To combine the strengths of Internet-based data collections and a scale measuring perceived needs among humanitarian populations, we developed HESPER Web, a self-administrated web-based version of the original HESPER [ 11 ]. The HESPER Web can be administrated through a web link and answered on a computer, tablet or mobile phone and the first psychometric evaluation of HESPER Web showed very good reliability and feasibility among a study sample of asylum seekers in Sweden [ 11 ]. In order to further evaluate the HESPER Web, a field test in a large scale humanitarian context was necessary.…”