Factor, Concurrent and Predictive Validity of the Readiness to Change Questionnaire [Treatment Version] Among Non-Treatment-Seeking Individuals

Abstract

Aims This study assessed the factor, concurrent and predictive validity of the revised Readiness to Change Questionnaire [Treatment Version] (RCQ[TV]) among non-treatment-seeking individuals. Methods Non-treatment-seeking patients (Mage = 34.8, SD = 12.4) who screened positive for alcohol misuse were recruited from three urban Level I Trauma Centers and completed the RCQ[TV] (Heather et al. [(1999) Development of a treatment version of the Readiness to Change Questionnaire. Addict Res7, 63–83]). Results A confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor structure of the RCQ[TV]. Observed scores for precontemplation, contemplation and action demonstrated concurrent validity, as they were correlated with drinking and alcohol-related problems prior to baseline assessment. Finally, RCQ[TV] scores at baseline added to the predictability of an alcohol consumption composite score at a 3-month follow-up after controlling for baseline alcohol consumption and randomization to treatment arm. Conclusions The results of the present study suggest that the RCQ[TV] has desirable psychometric properties and supports the use of the RCQ[TV] among non-treatment-seeking patients with alcohol misuse.

The Effects of a Brief Motivational Intervention for Alcohol Use through Stages of Change among Nontreatment Seeking Injured Patients

“…That is, those higher in contemplation at the 3‐month follow‐up are more likely to engage in at‐risk drinking, drink more, and experience alcohol problems up to 1 year later. These findings are consistent with a previous analysis of these data which found that higher contemplation scores predicted more alcohol use at 3‐month follow‐up (Richards et al, 2020). Further, these findings suggest that additional intervention may be required for those who remain ambivalent about making changes in their drinking at 3 months.…”

“…That is, motivation to change may mediate the effects of the brief interventions compared to BA. Consistent with expectations, our research has shown that those with more severe alcohol problems are more motivated to change their drinking at baseline (Richards et al, 2020). Given the observed moderating effect of severity of alcohol use on drinking outcomes observed in the parent study, motivation may mediate the effects of brief intervention for those with less severe alcohol problems but not those with more severe alcohol problems.…”

“…A psychometric evaluation of the RCQ[TV] conducted using data from the present trial supported a 3‐factor model of the RCQ[TV], which is consistent with previous psychometric evaluations of the RCQ[TV] (e.g., Heather et al, 1999). Furthermore, this psychometric evaluation found that contemplation and action subscale scores demonstrated associations with alcohol outcomes in opposite directions (Richards et al, 2020). These findings suggest against using an overall readiness to change measure using a total score (i.e., [contemplation + action] – precontemplation).…”

Measurement Invariance of the Readiness to Change Questionnaire Among Injured Patients Who Received a Brief Intervention for Alcohol Use

“…Further psychometric analyses revealed that eliminating the poorest performing item from each subscale (i.e., 12 items in total) resulted in improved psychometric properties and this 12-item measure was found to be both reliable and valid (Heather & Hönekopp, 2008). It stands to reason that the treatment version of the RCQ may be just as applicable, or even more so, to nontreatment-seeking populations as the original version given that the only major change was that the treatment version broadens the referenced goals to both abstinence and reductions as opposed to just reductions (Richards et al, 2020).…”

“…Richards et al (2020) conducted the first psychometric evaluation of the 12-item treatment version of the RCQ among a nontreatment-seeking sample, specifically using data from a multisite randomized controlled trial of brief intervention for alcohol use in the trauma care setting (Field et al, 2014). Support for the three-factor structure of the RCQ at baseline was found over alternative models, specifically a single common factor model representing overall readiness (e.g., Budd & Rollnick, 1996) and a two-factor model where precontemplation (reverse scored) and contemplation items loaded onto a common factor given a high interfactor correlation.…”