Behavioral risk assessment for infectious diseases (BRAID): Self-report instrument to assess injection and noninjection risk behaviors in substance users.
Infectious diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C are a significant problem among substance abusers. Current risk behavior measures [e.g., HIV Risk Taking Behaviour Scale (HRBS) and Risk Assessment Battery (RAB)] were developed for injection drug users and do not include newly identified risks or noninjection drug use behaviors. This study developed and provided initial, internal validation of the Behavioral Risk Assessment for Infectious Diseases (BRAID) to assess infectious disease risk behaviors among alcohol and other drug users.



A self-report measure was developed from literature regarding risk behaviors. Participants (total N=998) with alcohol/substance use disorder completed the measure in 2 phases to establish initial psychometric validity.



Phase 1 (N=270) completed 65 self-report questions; factor analysis revealed a 12-item solution with 5 factors (Unprotected Sex with Risky Partners, Injection Use, Sex on Cocaine/Crack, Condom Availability, and Intranasal Drug Use). Infectious disease history was positively associated with Injection Use (Sample 1) and Unprotected Sex with Risky Partners (Sample 2) and negatively associated with Intranasal Drug Use (Samples 1 and 2). Phase 2 (N=728) added additional injection-related items and confirmed the factor structure of the existing BRAID.



The BRAID is a 5-factor, 14-item self-report measure of past 6 month risk behaviors that is composed of noninjection and injection risk behaviors and was psychometrically confirmed. Though additional external (convergent/divergent) validation is needed, this report provides preliminary support for the use of the BRAID to assess infectious disease risk in substance users.
Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 5510 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, United States. Electronic address: kdunn9@jhmi.edu.
Kelly E
KE
Dunn
Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 5510 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, United States.
Frederick S
FS
Barrett
New York State Psychiatric Institute, United States.
Evan S
ES
Herrmann
University of Pennsylvania Department of Psychiatry, Treatment Research Center, United States.
Jennifer G
JG
Plebani
University of Vermont College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, United States.
Stacey C
SC
Sigmon
Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 5510 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, United States.
Matthew W
MW
Johnson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057566:Self Report; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
D016578:Crack Cocaine
BRAID; Drug use disorder; HIV; Injection; Noninjection