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Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy

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Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research

Validation of the French version of the alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST) in the elderly

Authors: Riaz Khan, Anne Chatton, Gabriel Thorens, Sophia Achab, Audrey Nallet, Barbara Broers, Gerard Calzada, Vladimir Poznyak, Daniele Zullino, Yasser Khazaal

Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

Background

Substance use disorders seem to be an under considered health problem amongst the elderly. The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), was developed by the World Health Organization to detect substance use disorders. The present study evaluates the psychometric properties of the French version of ASSIST in a sample of elderly people attending geriatric outpatient facilities (primary care or psychiatric facilities).

Methods

One hundred persons older than 65 years were recruited from clients attending a geriatric policlinic day care centre and from geriatric psychiatric facilities. Measures included ASSIST, Addiction Severity Index (ASI), Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-Plus), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Revised Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire-Smoking (RTQ) and MiniMental State(MMS).

Results

Concurrent validity was established with significant correlations between ASSIST scores, scores from ASI, AUDIT, RTQ, and significantly higher ASSIST scores for patients with a MINI-Plus diagnosis of abuse or dependence. The ASSIST questionnaire was found to have high internal consistency for the total substance involvement along with specific substance involvement as assessed by Cronbach’s α, ranging from 0.66, to 0.89 .

Conclusions

The findings demonstrate that ASSIST is a valid screening test for identifying substance use disorders in elderly.

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Title: Validation of the French version of the alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST) in the elderly
Authors: Riaz Khan
Anne Chatton
Gabriel Thorens
Sophia Achab
Audrey Nallet
Barbara Broers
Gerard Calzada
Vladimir Poznyak
Daniele Zullino
Yasser Khazaal
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1747-597X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1747-597X-7-14

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Validation of the French version of the alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST) in the elderly

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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