Background
: During recent years, for the purpose of evaluating the health related behaviors, many instruments especially such as health risk appraisal l(HRA) questionnaire were developed. The HRA questionnaire needs reliability for generalized usage. This study evaluated the reliability of Health Risk Appraisals(HRA) questionnaire in SNUH lifetime health monitoring program (LHMP) with test-retest method. This questionnaire evaluates individual's health risk factors and is composed of 23 items(18 optional types, 2 descriptive types, 3 mixed types).

Methods : A total of 140 selected adults aged 20 to 67 years registered in SNUH LHMP completed an HRA questionnaire on two occasions 2 to 6 weeks apart. Test-retest reliability was assessed by agreement index in optional and descriptive type, and kappa index in optional type. Moreover, non-response rate was obtained for each respondent and each question.

Results : The average of non-response rate was 0.10 by each respondent and 0.14 by each question. The range of test-retest reliability of responses to the questionnaire(by each respondent) was 1.00-0.57 by agreement index. The range of test-retest reliability (by each question) was 1.00-0.51 (unchangeable group) and 0.95-0.38 (changeable group) in optional type by kappa index, 0.88-0.16 in descriptive type by agreement index. Respondents generally gave consistent responses over 'fair' level in all items of optional type by kappa index, but relatively less consistent responses in descriptive type by agreement index.

Conclusion : The reliability of HRA questionnaire in SNUH lifetime health monitoring program (LHMP) was above fair level. and we can use this HRA questionnaire generally for evaluating the health related behaviors.