Translation and Cross-Cultural Validation and Reliability Assessment of the Thai Version of the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) among Men Who Have Sex with Men
Keywords:
substance use assessment, validity, reliability, screening tool, men who have sex with menAbstract
Background: Substance use remains a major public health concern, particularly among men who have sex with men, who are at increased risk due to overlapping sexual and substance use behaviors. Although several screening tools are in use, few have been culturally adapted and validated for this population. This study aimed to translate and adapt the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test into Thai and to examine its validity and reliability.
Methods: The study included 100 Thai men who have sex with men receiving HIV prevention services at a clinic in Chiang Mai. The assessment was translated following international guidelines and reviewed by experts. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha, construct validity was examined through exploratory factor analysis, and concurrent validity was assessed using the AUDIT and PHQ-8.
Results: The Thai version of the assessment demonstrated a Cronbach’s alpha of .77. The KMO was .60, and Bartlett’s test was statistically significant. One principal factor was identified, explaining 26.7% of the total variance. However, model fit indices (RMSEA = 0.193, TLI = 0.440) were below standard thresholds, suggesting limitations in the factor structure. The test showed moderate correlations with alcohol use (r = .55) and depressive symptoms (r = .49).
Conclusion: The Thai version of the DUDIT demonstrated acceptable levels of validity and reliability for screening substance use among men who have sex with men. Although some limitations were found in the model fit, the instrument shows potential for clinical and community-based application and warrants further validation in other populations.
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