University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale – Drug Version (URICA-DV)
Measures an individual's readiness to change drug-using behaviors across four stages of change.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale – Drug Version (URICA-DV) was developed by Carbonari, J.P., DiClemente, C.C., and Zweben, A. (1994). It is designed to measure Readiness to change drug use. The scale is intended for use with Individuals with drug or substance use problems.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 32 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Precontemplation, Contemplation, Action, Maintenance.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Precontemplation | 1,5,11,13,23,26,29,31 | 8 |
| Contemplation | 2,4,8,12,15,19,21,24 | 8 |
| Action | 3,7,10,14,17,20,25,30 | 8 |
| Maintenance | 6,9,16,18,22,27,28,32 | 8 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Precontemplation (.79); Contemplation (.83); Action (.85); Maintenance (.76).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.