title: A scale for estimating the health status of opioid users.
abstract: The health status of injecting drug users has both clinical and research relevance. In order to evaluate the impact of treatments for opiate dependence on drug users' health status we need valid and reliable instruments which are short and easily administered by non-medical personnel. This paper describes the construction of a brief interviewer administered scale for assessing the current health status of injecting drug users. Data evaluating its reliability and validity are presented which indicate that the scale has excellent psychometric properties.
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zador
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Swift
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone