Validation of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) for internet and automated telephone self-report administration

Abstract

This study assesses the convergent validity of Internet (Net) and interactive voice response (IVR) automated telephone self-report versions of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) relative to the established, clinician-administered (CA) ASI. Eighty-eight subjects were recruited from an addiction treatment program to complete three ASI assessments. The mean correlation between composite scores obtained by Net and IVR and those obtained via clinician interview was .91 (range .81–.95). For History items, the mean correlation was .77 (range .14–1.00) and the mean kappa coefficient was .75 (range .46–1.00). The results demonstrated the validity of these self-report Net and IVR versions of the ASI. Self-report Net and IVR were rated as “very satisfactory” or “extremely satisfactory” by a majority of respondents for ease of use. Automation can reduce the labor costs associated with ASI administration and may facilitate longitudinal tracking of subjects from home.