title: Test-retest reliability of self-reported drug treatment variables.
abstract: We conducted two studies to assess the test-retest reliability of drug treatment questions in the Risk Behavior Assessment (RBA) and Risk Behavior Follow-Up Assessment (RBFA). In Study 1, 218 active drug users participated in an RBA 48-hour test-retest reliability assessment; in Study 2, 257 active drug users participated in an RBFA 48-hour test-retest reliability assessment. Results revealed acceptable reliability for the main drug treatment question in both the RBA (.85) and RBFA (.85): "Have you ever in your lifetime been in a drug treatment or detoxification center?" Other more specific drug treatment questions yielded mixed results. Twenty-four of the 35 RBA and RBFA treatment variables (68.6%) that could be calculated displayed acceptable test-retest reliability coefficients. Test-retest reliability coefficients for the RBFA continuous variables could not be calculated owing to a lack of participants in drug treatment during the previous 6 months. Future research establishing greater delineation of this problem may aid in the construction of assessment instruments.
authors.affiliation: Center for Behavioral Research and Services, California State University, Long Beach, CA 90813, USA.
authors.forename: Jordan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Dennis G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Grace L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Redpath
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019233:Retreatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D047568:Unsafe Sex
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008691:Methadone