Readiness to change questionnaire: reliability study of its Spanish version

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Clinical Research

Background:

• The Readiness to Change Questionnaire (RCQ) is used to assess stages of change for behavior modification.
• Validating the Spanish RCQ is crucial for its application in diverse populations and opportunistic interventions.
• Previous research indicates the RCQ's utility, but its performance in specific clinical contexts requires evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability and validity of a Spanish version of the 12-item short form Readiness to Change Questionnaire (RCQ).
• To assess the RCQ's suitability for opportunistic interventions targeting excessive drinkers.
• To compare RCQ-based stage of change classifications with expert clinical judgment.

Main Methods:

• The study involved translating and back-translating the RCQ into Spanish.
• 201 excessive drinkers, identified via the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, completed the RCQ.
• Test-retest reliability was assessed, and a component analysis was performed. Expert interviews served as a benchmark for validity.

Main Results:

• The Spanish RCQ demonstrated good test-retest reliability for pre-contemplation (r = 0.81), contemplation (r = 0.87), and action (r = 0.86) stages.
• Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) varied, with fair to good scores (P: 0.58, C: 0.75, A: 0.80).
• Agreement between RCQ scores and expert assessments was notably lower (kappa = 0.44-0.52) than expert-expert agreement (kappa = 0.92).

Conclusions:

• The Spanish RCQ exhibited adequate test-retest reliability but insufficient validity for opportunistic interventions in this population.
• The questionnaire's classification of change stages did not align well with expert clinical judgment.
• Further refinement or alternative instruments may be needed for effective opportunistic interventions with Spanish-speaking excessive drinkers.