Assessing the Concurrent Validity of the Australian Treatment Outcomes Profile in a Methamphetamine Dependent Treatment‐Seeking Population
Brendan Clifford, Rachel M. Deacon, Kristie Mammen, Krista J. Siefried, Nadine Ezard, Nicholas LintzerisABSTRACT
Introduction
The Australian Treatment Outcomes Profile (ATOP) is a brief clinical tool assessing substance use, health and well‐being used in Australian alcohol and other drug treatment services. It is validated for use with clients using alcohol, opioids and cannabis, but not yet for clients who primarily use methamphetamine.
Methods
An embedded validation study was undertaken in treatment‐seeking adults enrolled in a randomised double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial of lisdexamfetamine for methamphetamine dependence with sites in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. Participant demographics were collected during study screening. The ATOP and comparators (Time Line Follow Back, Opiate Treatment Index, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, WHOQOL‐BREF and Personal Wellbeing Index) were collected at baseline. Continuous ATOP items were analysed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, and dichotomous items were analysed using Fleiss's κ . Agreement was rated as strong where measures were ≥ 0.50, moderate where agreement was 0.30–0.49, and weak where < 0.30.
Results
One hundred and eighteen study participants (2018–2020) had data for concurrent validity analysis. Strong validity was demonstrated for physical health, psychological health, quality of life, injecting drug use and crime items, and for days of use for amphetamines, alcohol, cannabis and cocaine. There was weak validity for days of use for benzodiazepines. Heroin use days and other opioid use days were endorsed by fewer than five participants and were therefore unable to be assessed.
Discussion and Conclusions
The ATOP is valid for use in a treatment‐seeking methamphetamine‐dependent population, expanding the range of tools for assessment and standardised outcome monitoring across different settings and services.