Staff attitudes towards working with drug users: development of the Drug Problems Perceptions Questionnaire

  1. Hazel Watson,
  2. William Maclaren,
  3. Susan Kerr

Article first published online: 13 DEC 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2006.01686.x

Issue

Addiction

Addiction

Volume 102, Issue 2, pages 206–215, February 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Watson, H., Maclaren, W. and Kerr, S. (2007), Staff attitudes towards working with drug users: development of the Drug Problems Perceptions Questionnaire. Addiction, 102: 206–215. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2006.01686.x

Author Information

  1. Caledonian Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

*Hazel Watson, Caledonian Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK. E-mail: h.e.watson@gcal.ac.uk

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 13 DEC 2006
  2. Article first published online: 13 DEC 2006
  3. Submitted 9 November 2005; initial review completed 24 February 2006; final version accepted 20 September 2006

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Keywords:

  • Attitude;
  • drug user;
  • reliability;
  • validity

ABSTRACT

Aim  To evaluate the psychometric properties of an adaptation of the Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perceptions Questionnaire to measure the attitudes of staff to working with drug users (the DDPPQ).

Design  Postal survey: a questionnaire was mailed to participants on two occasions.

Setting  A large urban National Health Service (NHS) mental health service.

Participants  A stratified random sample of medical staff, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists and nurses (n = 672) who work within generic mental health, adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry and alcohol and drug services. Response rate at Time 1 was 56% and 68% at Time 2.

Measurements  A structured demographic questionnaire; individual item and total scores for the DDPPQ administered on two occasions 4 weeks apart; data relating to the content validity of the instrument.

Findings  A principal component analysis confirmed the DDPPQ's construct validity and participants confirmed its content validity. Following analysis of the instrument's test–retest reliability and its principal component structure it was reduced to a 20-item scale. Its five subscales related to role adequacy, role support, job satisfaction, role-specific self-esteem and role legitimacy.

Conclusion  The refined DDPPQ was shown to be a valid and reliable tool which can be used to measure attitudes of people in relation to working with drug users.

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