Validation of the Abuse Screening Inventory (ASI)

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Abuse screening is crucial for identifying individuals experiencing psychological, physical, sexual abuse, or abuse in healthcare.
• Validated instruments are needed to accurately assess various forms of abuse in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the Abuse Screening Inventory (ASI).
• To determine the effectiveness of the ASI in a sample of 699 women.

Main Methods:

• The ASI, a 16-item questionnaire, was administered to 699 women.
• Test-retest reliability was assessed by re-administering the ASI to 53 women after six months.
• Concurrent validity was determined by comparing ASI results to interview data, considered the gold standard.

Main Results:

• The ASI demonstrated strong test-retest reliability, with item reliability ranging from 81% to 96%.
• The instrument effectively distinguished between abused and non-abused women, showing no false positives.
• Sensitivity for abuse detection ranged from 72% to 82%.

Conclusions:

• The Abuse Screening Inventory (ASI) is a reliable and valid tool for screening abuse in women.
• The ASI's acceptable validity and reliability support its use in clinical settings for identifying various forms of abuse.