![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Background: The Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) is a reliable and valid tool for the early detection of harmful and hazardous drug use in primary care settings when administered by interview in the general population. In university students, substance use is high, so a reliable and feasible screening instrument is needed. Objectives: To compare the computer-based ASSIST (ASSISTc) with the interview format (ASSISTi). Methods: A convenience sample with counterbalanced design was used alternating between the ASSISTi and ASSISTc with 15-day interval. Although this is not a traditional test–retest reliability study, the same statistical analysis was used: intraclass correlations (ICC), kappa (κ), and Cronbach's alpha (α) to compare the two formats. A satisfaction questionnaire was applied immediately after the second session. Results: Both formats were completed by the students (n = 809) over 15 days. The scores of involvement with all substances and with tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine obtained with the two formats demonstrated excellent ICC (> .77). The level of agreement was considered substantial for tobacco (κ = .69) and cannabis (κ = .70) and moderate for alcohol (κ = .58). The consistency of the ASSISTc was considered satisfactory (α: .85 for tobacco, .73 for alcohol, and .87 for cannabis). The analysis of satisfaction and feasibility showed that the ASSISTi was easier to understand, but the two formats were considered similar when considering acceptability, ease of responding, and degree of intimidation. Conclusions/importance: The two formats are acceptable, the scores are comparable, and they can be used interchangeably.
Notes
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Adriana Oliveira Christoff
Adriana Oliveira Christoff has Graduated in pharmacy in the Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Paraná (2003), specialization in pharmacology in the Universidade Federal do Paraná (2006), Master in pharmacology in the Universidade Federal do Paraná (2008) and Ph.D. in pharmacology in the Universidade Federal do Paraná (2015). She is professor of pharmacology in the Centro Universitario do Brasil. She has experience in pharmacy, teaching, lectures and training, with emphasis on Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, working mainly on drugs of abuse.
Heloisa Gomm Arruda Barreto
Heloisa Gomm Arruda Barreto has Graduated in Pharmacy and Biochemistry in the Universidade Federal do Paraná (1993), specialization (1996) and Master in Pharmacology in the Universidade Federal do Paraná (2013). She has experience in Pharmacy with emphasis on management, pharmaceutical care and risk management, Clinical Analyses, and also in training activities with emphasis on early detection of drug use.
Roseli Boerngen-Lacerda
Roseli Boerngen-Lacerda has Graduated in Biomedical Science in the Universidade Federal de São Paulo (1977), Master in Pharmacology (1979) and Ph.D. in Psychobiology in the Universidade Federal de São Paulo (1997). She is currently Full Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and in the program M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Pharmacology in the Universidade Federal do Paraná. She has experience in the area of pharmacology with an emphasis on Neuropsychopharmacology, and in the area of drugs of abuse. She has been working in clinical and basic research in the area of drug abuse. She is a researcher in the ASSIST multicenter collaborative project for early detection and brief intervention on drug abuse and in the e-health Project, which are coordinated by the World Health Organization. She is the regional coordinator of distance course SUPERA coordinated by the National Bureau of Policies on Drugs in Brazil (SENAD). She is an International member of the Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) and of the International Society on Biomedical Research on Alcohol (ISBRA).