An exploratory research: factor structure and reliability of the Arabic version of the Assessment and Screening of Assistance Needs – Drugs (ASAN-Drugs)

ABSTRACT

Background: Assessment and Screening of Assistance Needs (ASAN-Drugs) has its objective to identify the severity of drug consumption through 28 items. This instrument allows for the matching of severity levels of the degree of care needed to allow the orientation of the person in the service that corresponds to his/her case and needs. The aim of this research is to assess the factorial validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the ASAN-D.

Methods: The study included a sample of 53 participants; all of them were males (100%). Participants' age ranged from 18 to 50 with a mean age (SD) of 31.5 (6.27).

Results: The results of the exploratory factor analysis demonstrated a one-factor solution which explained 61% of the total sample. Through confirmatory factor analysis, this model can be considered as satisfactory. Reliability was good in the total sample (α = .84).

Conclusions: According to these results, the factorial validity of the Arabic version of the ASAN-D appears as a helpful assessment instrument to detect the degree of assistance needed and to better orient the individual in the appropriate service in Saudi Arabia.

Abbreviations: SDS: Severity of Dependence Scale; ASAN-D: Assessment and Screening of Assistance Needs – Drugs; DUIS: Drug Use Impact Scale; EFA: exploratory factor analysis

KEYWORDS:

• Addiction
• evaluation
• screening tool
• assistance need

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Jeddah Research Center and Al-Amal Hospital patients and staff.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

All the authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.