Development of Short-Form Versions of the Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain-Revised (SOAPP-R): A Proof-of-Principle Study

Abstract

The 12-item version of the SOAPP-R has potential as a short risk screener and should be tested prospectively.

Computer‐based testing and the 12‐item Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain‐Revised: A combined approach to improving efficiency

“…Results of these novel methods were compared to those of the full‐length form of the SOAPP‐R, curtailment of the full‐length form, stochastic curtailment of the full‐length form, and the 12‐item static short form without curtailment or stochastic curtailment. The latter four methods had been applied to the datasets of Samples 1–3 previously (Finkelman et al., ; Finkelman, Jamison, et al., ; Finkelman, Smits, et al., ) but had never been compared to the former two novel stopping methods that were developed in the current research. Two different stopping thresholds were investigated for all methods involving stochastic curtailment: a 95% stopping threshold and a 99% stopping threshold.…”

“…Existing validated questionnaires are available to assist clinicians in screening patients for potential aberrant medication‐related behaviors, including the Opioid Risk Tool (Webster & Webster, ) and the Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain‐Revised (SOAPP‐R; Butler, Budman, Fernandez, Fanciullo, & Jamison, ). The latter questionnaire has undergone validity testing (Butler, Fernandez, Benoit, Budman, & Jamison, ) and has been extensively researched in subsequent studies (Finkelman et al., , ; Finkelman, Jamison, et al., ; Finkelman, Smits, et al., ; Jones et al., ; Weiner, Horton, Green, & Butler, , ). The full‐length version of the SOAPP‐R consists of 24 self‐report items (whose item scores are summed to obtain a total score), with a single cutoff point to categorize patients as either low risk or high risk for aberrant medication‐related behaviors.…”

“…In light of the above concerns, recent research has investigated whether it is possible to shorten the SOAPP‐R without sacrificing its ability to predict aberrant medication‐related behavior (Black, McCaffrey, Villapiano, Jamison, & Butler, ; Finkelman et al., ; Finkelman, Smits, et al., ). One approach that has been suggested (Finkelman et al., ) is to administer the screener by computer, track a given respondent's score as he/she proceeds through the test, and stop the assessment once an internal algorithm determines that further items are not necessary.…”

“…In this approach, the questionnaire can be administered either by computer or paper‐and‐pencil format, and all respondents receive the same (abbreviated) form. A recent retrospective analysis suggested that a static 12‐item version of the SOAPP‐R has sensitivity and specificity within 4% of those of the full‐length screener; in one case, it had higher specificity than the full‐length screener (Finkelman, Smits, et al., ).…”

“…Previous research on shortening the SOAPP‐R has investigated the computer‐based methods (curtailment/stochastic curtailment) and the short form separately from each other (Finkelman et al., ; Finkelman, Jamison, et al., ; Finkelman, Smits, et al., ). However, given that both approaches have shown promise in reducing test lengths, applying only one approach at a time may not take full advantage of their potential; it is possible that test efficiency would be enhanced by applying them jointly.…”