The reliability and validity of drug users' self reports of amphetamine use among primarily heroin and cocaine users.
Relatively few studies have addressed the psychometric properties of self-report measures of amphetamine use. This study examines the reliability and validity of the Risk Behavior Assessment's (RBA) lifetime and recent amphetamine-use questions. To evaluate validity, 4027 out-of-treatment primarily cocaine and heroin users provided urine samples that were compared to self-report data; to evaluate reliability, 218 completed the RBA at two time points, 48h apart. In the overall sample, self-reports demonstrated moderately high validity, with a 95% accuracy rate (kappa=.54). When analysis was restricted to recent amphetamine users validity was slightly lower (71.5% accuracy; kappa=.41). Test-retest data indicated good reliability for self-reports of ever having used amphetamine (kappa=.79), and amphetamine use in the past 30 days (.75<r<.91). Out-of-treatment drug users provided accurate self-reports of amphetamine use. Reliable and valid measures are essential for describing and predicting trends in amphetamine use, evaluating the effectiveness of interventions, and developing policies and programs.
Napper
Lucy E
LE
Center for Behavioral Research and Services, California State University, Long Beach, 90813, USA.
Fisher
Dennis G
DG
Johnson
Mark E
ME
Wood
Michele M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000652:urine; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000652:urine; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012650:Self Disclosure; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
D000661:Amphetamine