Evaluating psychometric properties of the Thai-version Alcohol Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST)

Abstract

Background: Alcohol use disorders and illicit drug use disorder are important causes of mortality and disability in adolescents. This study evaluated psychometric properties of the Thai-version Alcohol Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Two subscales were tested, including the Tobacco and Alcohol. Method: 624 participants from three high schools in Bangkok and Nakornpathom province, Thailand were recruited. Research instruments included self-reported questionnaire of demographic data and the ASSIST Thai-version. The construct validity and concurrent of the scale was test using structural equation modeling with AMOS 23.0. Internal consistency reliability was tested by using reliability analyses. Results: Results showed that the ASSIST Thai-version displayed one-factor solution for both assessment of Tobacco and Alcohol. Factor loadings for Tobacco ranged from.40 to.96 and for Alcohol those were in the range of.28 -.82. Construct and concurrent validity of the instrument were supported by the results from this study. Cronbach’s alpha was.82 for Tobacco and.73 for Alcohol, indicating good and acceptably reliability. Conclusion: The results showed adequate psychometric properties of the Thai version ASSIST. Thus, this scale is appropriate to use for screening specifically in Tobacco and Alcohol use among Thai adolescents.