Validation and psychometric properties of the drug users’ quality of life scale in Iranian population

Abstract

Introduction: Drug dependence and the resultant problems notably decrease the quality of life (QOL). Measuring the QOL in persons who use drugs (PWUD s) and planning to improve it can be helpful for rehabilitation programs. Given the absence of a standard tool to measure the quality of life of PWUD, the present study is an attempt to validate psychometric and cultural characteristics of non-injection drug users' QOL scale. Method: The study was carried out as a validation and methodological work. The study population consisted of 273 PWUDs in Kermanshah-based drug clinics including outgoing and hospitalized patients. The participants were selected through convenient-quota sampling. After securing the required permission from the copyright owner of the tool, it was forward/backward translated. Face validity and content validity were determined quantitatively and qualitatively. To examine construct validity of the tool, explorative factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's alpha and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (v.25) and LISREL (v.8). Results: Explorative factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results supported the tool with one factor and 22 items. The R2 index in the model was equal to 0.99, which means that 99% of the variation of dependent variable (total score of QOL) is attributed to independent variable (22 statements). In other words, 99% of the variation of dependent variable is due to the independent variables in the model. The main indices of the model based on CFA all were higher than 0.9, which indicates goodness of fit of the model (χ2/DF = 2.18, CFI, NFI, TLI = 0.93 GF = 0.84, REMSEA = 0.066, R2 = 0.99). The correlative coefficient was significant (p < 0.05). The reliability of the tool based on internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) for the subscales ranged from 0.84 to 0.85 and equal to 0.84 for the whole tool. Conclusion: The Farsi version of non-injection drug users' QOL scale had acceptable indices and it was applicable to assess QOL in the target population. The tool can be used in different fields of drug addiction.

Quality of Life in Drug-dependent Adults: a systematic review

“…A continuación, se debe tomar en cuenta los siguientes criterios diagnósticos para el trastorno por consumo de sustancias basadas en el DSM-5: (26) 1. Uso peligroso (27) Por ende, la QOL tiene objetivos como los resultados terapéuticos y definir la severidad de dependencia, de este modo, por medio de diversos cuestionarios es de conocimiento que dentro de los cuatro dominios de la calidad de vida, las relaciones sociales son las que tiene mayor obstáculo para que se recuperan con facilidad en su entorno. (28) La drogodependencia y sus resultados reducen considerablemente la QOL en diversas necesidades, por lo cual, son puntos claves para el manejo y tratamiento de padecimientos asociados al abuso de drogas.…”