Validation of the Assessments \Global Appraisal of Individual Needs Initial and Short Screener\

Author(s)

Heloísa Garcia Claro

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Enfermagem (EE/SBD)
• Defense date: 2015-03-16

Examining board members

Marcia Aparecida Ferreira de Oliveira; Janet Catherine Titus Boudreaux; Dina de Almeida Lopes Monteiro da Cruz; Erikson Felipe Furtado; Douglas Cary Smith

• Advisor: Marcia Aparecida Ferreira de Oliveira

Abstract

Introduction: The problems arising from the use of alcohol and other drugs, major concern from a public health point of view, generate issues and special needs for the individuals and, when undetected, can harm the individualized and comprehensive care. Considering the need for measurement based on evidence in the area, which ranges the different needs of the individual, this study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the instruments \"Global Appraisal of Individual Needs - Initial and Short Screener\" for use in Brazil. Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the instruments \"Global Appraisal of Individual Needs Initial and Short Screener\". Methods: The study was designed as a methodological study of validation of the instruments \"Global Appraisal of Individual Needs\" in the versions Short Screener and Initial. Data with Short Screener version were collected with 128 individuals in the initial phase of treatment in a Psychosocial Care Center for Alcohol and Other Drugs, and the Initial version with 40 patients being treated in an inpatient service and 70 individuals in the embracement stage of treatment in a Psychosocial Care Center for Alcohol and Other Drugs in Sao Paulo. Internal consistency analysis was performed for both versions of the instruments and its subscales. Analysis of the Rasch model was performed for the subscales of the Short Screener version and for the subscale Substance Problem Scale. The association of the Substance Disorder Screener with the other subscales of the Short Screener was verified. We also performed the analysis of convergent validity between the subscales of the Short Screener version and its wider versions of the Initial. Results: Both versions of the instrument presented internal consistency indices greater than 0.7 Cronbachs alpha for their most comprehensive subscales. The Substance Problem Scale and subscales of the Short Screener fit the Rasch model, and none of their items distort the measurements. The subscale Substance Problem Scale has two items of its sixteen with different performance between men and women and seems to have redundancy for measuring severity. The subscales of Short Screener show moderate to strong correlation with the subscales of the Initial, and their most comprehensive scales have convergent validity (rho = 0.801). The Short Screener analysis shows that there is an association between the severity of symptoms related to alcohol and other drugs and mental health symptoms and problems related to crime and violence. Conclusions: Both instrument versions have internal consistency and convergent validity with each other and are valid according to the Rasch model. They also show to be compatible with results from American and Canadian studies with the instrument (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/20741-7 - Validation of the instrument "Global Appraisal of Individual Needs - INITIAL" for Brazilian use
• Grantee: Heloísa Garcia Claro Fernandes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate