Abstract
Hispanic Americans are substantially underrepresented in clinical and research samples for substance use treatment, with language cited as one of the major barriers to their participation, indicating a need for more validated assessments in Spanish. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the Short Inventory of Problems (SIP), used in a multisite, randomized trial conducted for Spanish-speaking substance users. The sample included 405 Spanish-speaking treatment seekers, mostly male (88%) and legally mandated to treatment (71%). The Spanish version of the revised SIP (SIP-RS), as well as other commonly used assessment measures translated into Spanish, were administered at baseline and at the end of treatment. Internal consistency was excellent (α = .96), and construct validity was supported through correlations with composite scores from the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) (e.g., r = .57, p < .01 for ASI drug composite), and through differential SIP-RS scores according to diagnostic criteria. The SIP-RS also demonstrated an association with substance use and treatment retention, with higher baseline scores associated with significantly less abstinence during treatment (β = −.22, p < .01) and fewer days retained in treatment (β = −.14, p < .05). However, the latter association was moderated by participants' legal status. Nevertheless, this Spanish-translated version of the SIP (SIP-RS) appears to be a reliable and valid assessment of adverse consequences associated with alcohol and drug use, with psychometric properties comparable with the English version.
