The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #72665

Michele M. Wood, MS, Dennis G. Fisher, PhD, and Jennifer A. Klahn, MA. Center for Behavioral Research & Services, California State University, Long Beach, 1090 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813, (562) 495-2330, ext. 111, mmwood@csulb.edu

INTRODUCTION: The Readiness to Change Questionnaire (RTCQ), the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES), and the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) are commonly used to assess stage-of-change among drug users. The present study compares these instruments to assess convergent and divergent validity. METHODS: The RTCQ, SOCRATES, and URICA were administered to 270 active crack, amphetamine, and/or injection drug users (76% Male; 64% Black, 22% White, 10% Hispanic, 4% Other; M age=43.42 years, SD=8.89). Cohen’s Kappa was used to compare stage-of-change, and the Campbell and Fiske (1959) multitrait-multimethod approach was used to compare stage-of-change subscales for each instrument. RESULTS: For the RCQ and SOCRATES, Kappa was .207 (n=270, .95 CI: .138-.276); for the RCQ and URICA, .139 (n=272, .95 CI: .068-.211); for the SOCRATES and URICA, .164 (n=270, .95 CI: .076-.252). For RCQ and URICA, correlation matrices suggest good discriminant and very good convergent validity. The correlation matrices for the SOCRATES and both the RCQ and URICA suggest that the SOCRATES is not measuring the same constructs as the RCQ or URICA. DISCUSSION: Findings highlight the complexity of the stage-of-change concept and underline the importance of assessing convergent and discriminant validity. The RCQ and URICA appear to be assessing the same constructs and may be useful instruments.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to:
• Report 3 different approaches for measuring stage-of-change among active drug users.
• Understand the relationship between scores obtained on the RTCQ, SOCRATES, and URICA.
• Recognize common measurement problems in assessing stage-of-change among drug users.

Keywords: Drug Use, Assessments

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.