Evaluating the psychometric properties of three WHO instruments to assess knowledge about human rights, attitudes toward persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities, and practices related to substitute decision-making and coercion

The objective of this study is to evaluate the validity and reliability of three instruments developed to fill this gap in the literature: the World Health Organization's Quality Rights (QR) Knowledge Questionnaire, the WHO's QR Attitudes Questionnaire, and the WHO's QR Practices Questionnaire.

The analyses conducted indicate that the three questionnaires are valid and reliable instruments for assessing knowledge about the rights of people with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities, attitudes towards their role as rights holders, and the practices of mental health professionals related to making substitute decisions and coercing them.

This finding supports the use of these instruments both within mental health services and in the general population for a better understanding of current knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to a human rights-based approach to mental health in mental health services and the community.