Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test-Extended (DUDIT-E) and development of an app for screening, intervention and referral of adolescents with alcohol and other drugs related problems

• Grant number: 21/00926-7
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal researcher: Maria Lucia Oliveira de Souza Formigoni
• Grantee: Richard Alecsander Reichert
• Home Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Harmful use and dependence on alcohol and other drugs represent an important public health concern at a global level, especially in adolescence, a period in which important neurocognitive, emotional and social development processes are still underway. To reduce potential social and health risks and damages at this stage of life, it is necessary to formulate detection, prevention and treatment strategies that present good indicators of efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Objectives: This project aims to carry out the translation, cross-cultural adaptation and construct validation of the DUDIT-E (Drug Use Disorders Identification Test - Extended) scale for use in Brazilian adolescents and to develop its adaptation for use as part of a digital application, to be used by health professionals, aimed at screening adolescent drug users in order to apply a brief intervention or referral for treatment. Methodology: This is a study of mixed methods, of quantitative and qualitative nature. The sample will consist of approximately 500 adolescents or young adults aged 15 to 24 years. Sociodemographic data questionnaires and the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test - Extended (DUDIT-E) will be used as instruments. The scale will be translated into Brazilian Portuguese and, subsequently, to guarantee the reliability of the translation, the backtranslation procedure will be adopted. To assess the internal consistency of the instrument, Cronbach's Alpha will be calculated, an indicator of the level of consistency of the individuals' responses to all items on the scale. After the instrument is applied online, the construct validity of DUDIT-E will be assessed through factor analysis. In the second study, an application will be developed, to be used by health professionals, which will include an interface to fill in all DUDIT-E questions and a guide for carrying out a brief intervention and referral to treatment units, using georeferencing for indication nearest locations. After a pilot study and necessary adjustments, approximately 100 health professionals will be asked to use the application in their routine care for adolescent users of alcohol and other drugs in the psychiatric and pediatric sectors of UNIFESP and other universities and health services. In order to assess the satisfaction of professionals when using the application, focus groups will be conducted using semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data will be analyzed through Content Analysis with the support of Nvivo software. Final Considerations: The project aims to contribute to the implementation of evaluation procedures and interventions based on scientific evidence in health services. (AU)