Abstract

PITSOANE, Kelebogile; MORGAN, Nirvana  and  MALL, Sumaya. The test-retest reliability of the Opiate Treatment Index in nyaope users in Johannesburg. S. Afr. j. psyc. [online]. 2024, vol.30, n.1, pp.1-8. ISSN 2078-6786.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v30i0.2087.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies suggest that nyaope, a heroin-based drug, is widely used in South Africa. Yet few reliable research tools are available to assess treatment outcomes of users. The Opiate Treatment Index (OTI), a tool developed in Australia, could potentially facilitate research on context-specific South African treatment outcomes. However, we know little of its test-retest reliability. AIM: This study aimed to assess the test-retest reliability of the OTI among a sample of nyaope users in Johannesburg. SETTING: This study was conducted across three substance use treatment facilities in Johannesburg. METHODS: The OTI was administered to 53 nyaope users at baseline and one week later. To determine the test-retest reliability of the OTI, the intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and the Brennan-Prediger coefficients of the two interviews were calculated. RESULTS: The ICC of the Q-scores from the data sets along with the Brennan-Prediger coefficient for the substance use domain were calculated. The ICC for nyaope was 0.38. Brennan-Prediger coefficients were as follows: alcohol - 0.96, crack-cocaine - 0.89, cannabis - 0.92, methaqualone - 0.85 and crystal methamphetamine - 0.89. CONCLUSION: A significant positive finding was the excellent test-retest reliability of the injecting and sexual behaviour domains and moderate reliability of the criminality, general health and social functioning domains. CONTRIBUTION: The results of this study provide insight into the reliability of this tool and for its use in future studies in the South African context.

Keywords : nyaope; opiates; test-retest reliability; opiate treatment index; substance users; opioids; heroin; rehabilitation; Johannesburg.

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