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[Development and reliability study of the adolescent inhalant use severity scale]
Kültegin Ogel1, Alper Aksoy, Ayfer Topuz
1Bakirköy Ruh ve Sinir Hastaliklari Hastanesi, Istanbul.
Turk Psikiyatri Dergisi = Turkish Journal of Psychiatry
|December 20, 2005
Summary
A new 18-item scale, the Yeniden Inhalant Use Severity Scale (YUKUD), reliably measures adolescent inhalant use severity. This validated tool aids in research and clinical assessment of adolescent substance use.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Adolescent Health
- Substance Use Research
Background:
- Inhalant use is a significant concern among adolescents, necessitating accurate assessment tools.
- Existing measures may not adequately capture the severity of inhalant use in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a scale for assessing the severity of inhalant use in adolescents.
- To establish the reliability and validity of the developed scale.
Main Methods:
- A 21-item questionnaire was developed based on interviews with professionals and adolescents.
- The scale was administered to 50 adolescents, with reliability assessed through interrater, test-retest correlations, and Cronbach's alpha.
- Validity was examined by comparing scores with the Visual Analog Scale and SCID-I for addict vs. non-addict groups.
Main Results:
- The scale demonstrated adequate correlation with the Visual Analog Scale (0.72) and high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.84).
- Addicted adolescents scored significantly higher than non-addicts (p<0.001).
- Three items showed low internal consistency and reliability, suggesting their removal.
Conclusions:
- The 18-item Yeniden Inhalant Use Severity Scale (YUKUD) is proposed as a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating adolescent inhalant use severity.
- The refined scale can be utilized in clinical settings and future research on adolescent inhalant use.