Assessment Tool Analyses As stated by Weissman and Beck in Development and Validation of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale: A Preliminary Investigation, The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) was developed to measure pervasive negative attitudes of a depressed person towards self, outside world, and future. (Weissman, 1978, p.3) When it was initially done it had one hundred questions, then it was reduced to two sets of forty questions and since then there have been different versions used to assess and research different studies. The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale shows that in depressed individuals there is a correlation in depression and the individual’s distortion in their views of self, world and future. . (Weissman, 1978, p.7) In reading the above article it is evident that the use of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale is best used in an young adult to adult setting as a tool of depression evaluation. The areas covered in the questions pertain to accessibility of where you stand in life and measurements are by life events such as job, coworker’s ability to provide and so on. The knowledge gained and its validity has to do with whether or not the individuals are being honest in their answers. Also the perceptions that the individuals may have about their own lives may be distorted so how can it be a true answer to some questions. If using this tool in nursing process it would be effective for those involved in care as to how they will continue to care for themselves outside of the hospital setting, which could assist with possible needed referrals if needed upon discharge. In researching Daily Hassle Scale I found that there are several scales that have been created over time and used in different ways. Daily hassles are defined as “irritating, frustrating demands that occur during everyday transactions with the environment” (Holm & Holroyd, 1992, p. 465). They need to be differentiated from significant life events, which refer to “environmental circumstance[s] that [have] an identifiable onset and ending and may carry the potential for altering an individual’s present state of mental and physical well-being” (Goodyer, 2001, p. 204) This is a great scale for evaluating adolescents who may be having difficulty functioning in society with their peers and family members, because it works in pinpointing daily struggles with others and stressors that may be able to be alleviated after being made known. As with many others it is the self-awareness that can assist in making the changes to stop some stress in an individual’s life. The Daily Hassle Scale is a tool that can assist in the nursing process to evaluate how the individual processes stress and what coping strategies he or she may already have as they deal with their daily life. It also helps the nurse to give assistance on teaching better coping skills if needed.
While looking into the Perceived Stress Scale I was able to find the questions that one had used to evaluate individuals I am including it below as it gives a better sense of how some of the scales work: The questions in this scale ask you about your feelings and thoughts during the last month. For each question, circle the appropriate number. In the last month Almost Fairly Very how often have you felt: Never, never, sometimes, often, often | | Upset because of something that happened unexpectedly? 0 1 2 3 4 | Unable to control the important things in your life? 0 1 2 3 4 | Nervous and stressed? 0 1 2 3 4 | | Unable to cope with all the things you had to do? 0 1 2 3 4 | | Angered because of things beyond your control? 0 1 2 3 4 | That difficulties were piling up so high that you could not overcome them? | Confident about your abilities to handle your personal problems? 43210 | That things were going your way? 43210 Able to control irritations in your life? 43210 That you were on top of things? 43210 Scoring: The higher your total score, the greater your stress level. The average score for the general population is 14 for women, 12 for men. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Feb/2001) I find it interesting that the average score has women being higher than menespecially when it is known that women tend to outlive men. I like this scaletoo because it is quick and still a good reference to use in evaluating your individual’s stressors in life. It can also be used to open up into other areas in his or her life to further evaluate. In the vulnerable populations we encounter while working in the medical settings there are many who are dealing with multiple stressors because of illness. Some are unable to have jobs or provide themselves insurance.Then there is the ones who are indigent t and will not be able to really do follow up care appropriately after being hospitalized.The loss of a support system can make recovery difficult if not impossible. The age, maturity and life styles can create stressors too. All three of these assessment tools, Dysfunctional Assessment Scale, Daily Hassle Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale are great tools to use in evaluating individuals in the hospital settings. I believe that the information is only as reliable and sound as the individual who is answering the questions. I think in any situation bringing attention to areas that need more care or focus can only help an individual in dealing with stress. Our lives have become so complex that many people continue to plug along not realizing all the stress and damage it may have done because they do not take the time to really use better coping skills. | | | | | | |
References
Weissman, Arlene N.; Beck, Aaron T., Development and Validation of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale: A Preliminary Investigation. (1978), p. 3, p. 7

Wright, Michalle; Creed, Peter; Zimmer-Gembeck, Melanie J., The Development and

Initial Validation of a Brief Daily Hassles Scale Suitable for Use with Adolescents,

European Journal of Psychological Assessment, ISSN 1015-5759, (Jan/2010), Vol 26

Perceived Stress Scale: One Star Edition, Pittsburgh Post - Gazette
[Pittsburgh, Pa] ( Feb 2001): X-4.

Mitchell, Ann M; Crane, Patricia A; Kim, Yookyung, Perceived stress in survivors of suicide: psychometric properties of the Perceived Stress Scale, Research in Nursing & Health (RES NURS HEALTH), (December/2008), pp. 576-85. (32 ref)