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

BackgroundAlcohol 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.Method624 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.ResultsResults 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.ConclusionThe 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.