Opioid Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale (OPBSS): Development and psychometric evaluation

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Addiction Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) help mitigate risks associated with substance use.
• Validated measures exist for alcohol and cannabis PBS, but not for opioids.
• Opioid use poses significant health risks, necessitating harm reduction tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a psychometric tool for assessing opioid-specific PBS.
• To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Opioid Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale (OPBSS).

Main Methods:

• Developed a 60-item scale from existing PBS measures, literature, and expert input.
• Administered the scale to 345 adults with past-month opioid use, with 277 completing a 1-month follow-up.
• Conducted item, factor, and reliability analyses to refine the scale to 46 items.

Main Results:

• A 46-item, two-factor scale (Controlled Opioid Use, Serious Harm Reduction) was supported.
• The OPBSS demonstrated high internal consistency and good test-retest reliability.
• OPBSS scores were associated with other PBS measures, risky opioid use, and negative consequences.

Conclusions:

• The 46-item OPBSS is a promising, psychometrically sound tool for measuring opioid PBS.
• Increased opioid PBS use is linked to reduced risky behaviors and negative outcomes.
• Further research is needed to tailor PBS strategies for diverse opioid-using populations.