AIMS

The present study analysed the psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the stage of change-readiness and treatment-eagerness scale among alcohol-dependent patients and investigated whether a three-factor structure fit the data.

BACKGROUND

The stage of change-readiness and treatment-eagerness scale is a 19-item instrument designed to measure alcohol-dependent patients' motivation for change. However, this instrument had not been translated and validated for use in Taiwan.

DESIGN

Survey.

METHODS

A sample of 161 alcohol-dependent patients receiving alcohol-related treatment in psychiatric hospital outpatient and inpatient units was included. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on three-factor measurement models of the stage of change-readiness and treatment-eagerness scale.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analyses supported the presence of a three-factor modified model (ambivalence, recognition and taking steps) among alcohol-dependent patients. Higher internal item consistency was found for the recognition and taking step factors, while the ambivalence factor was shown to have lower internal consistency. Convergent, discriminant and concurrent validity were obtained for the assessment of severity of alcohol dependence.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that the 11-item, three-factor modified Chinese version of the stage of change readiness and treatment eagerness scale provided best goodness of fit for the data in this study. This study demonstrated that the Chinese version of the stage of change readiness and treatment eagerness scale is a reliable and valid self-report measure for the assessment of changing motivation in alcohol-dependent patients.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The Chinese version of stage of change readiness and treatment eagerness scale is applicable for use in clinical treatment and research, predicting motivation for change and evaluating intervention outcomes in Taiwan.