FITNESS-TO-DRIVE MEDICAL ASSESSMENT IN SUBSTANCE USERS: DEVELOPMENT OF A QUESTIONNAIRE ADDRESSED TO A MULTICULTURAL POPULATION
C. Palmiere, M. Scarpelli, J. Baur
Abstract: Background and Objectives. Different kinds of questionnaires for detection of hazardous or harmful alcohol or psychotropic substance consumption are currently used for several purposes. The aim of this study was to design a questionnaire specifically oriented to fitness-to-drive medical assessment, usable for various psychotropic substances, available in several languages, and to investigate its psychometric properties.
Methods. A questionnaire consisting of 21 questions and translated into ten languages was administered to 112 individuals who underwent fitness-to-drive medical assessment (71 cases for alcohol, 60 men, 11 women, 22 for cannabis 16 men, 6 women, and 19 cases for drugs other than cannabis, 15 men, 4 women). 58 questionnaires were filled in according to an administered-by-the-interviewer modality, 54 questionnaires were filled in according to a self-report delayed modality.
Results. The questionnaire designed for this study showed satisfactory face-validity, test-retest reliability, acceptability, and construct validity.
Conclusions and Scientific Significance. Compared to validated questionnaires currently used in fitness-to-drive medical assessment, the designed questionnaire revealed modest advantages in terms of sensitivity and specificity. However, in comparison to available validated questionnaires, the designed questionnaire showed interesting advantages in terms of greater acceptability, greater ease to fill in, and greater suitability in terms of understandability and multiculturalism. Fitness-to-drive medical assessment in multicultural societies requires the use of cross-cultural and appropriate tools, thus allowing people who undergo such assessments to provide reliable information regardless of their mother tongue. Providing a questionnaire available in different languages might contribute to avoid disparities and ensure optimal assessment setting. Keywords: fitness-to-drive medical assessments, alcohol, illicit substances, self-reported questionnaires, social desirability bias.
. 58 questionnaires were filled in according to an administered-by-the-interviewer modality, 54 questionnaires were filled in according to a self-report delayed modality.
<br /> Results. The questionnaire designed for this study showed satisfactory face-validity, test-retest reliability, acceptability, and construct validity.
<br /> Conclusions and Scientific Significance. Compared to validated questionnaires currently used in fitness-to-drive medical assessment, the designed questionnaire revealed modest advantages in terms of sensitivity and specificity. However, in comparison to available validated questionnaires, the designed questionnaire showed interesting advantages in terms of greater acceptability, greater ease to fill in, and greater suitability in terms of understandability and multiculturalism. Fitness-to-drive medical assessment in multicultural societies requires the use of cross-cultural and appropriate tools, thus allowing people who undergo such assessments to provide reliable information regardless of their mother tongue. Providing a questionnaire available in different languages might contribute to avoid disparities and ensure optimal assessment setting.&redirect_uri=http://rjlm.ro/index.php/arhiv/1050)