Translation and psychometric validation of the Vietnamese versions of the Drinker Inventory of Consequences and Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale
Trieu Van Nhat, , , Jun-2026, In: Frontiers of Nursing, 13, 2, p. 213-223
Overview
Abstract:
Objective: Despite hazardous alcohol use (HAU) being prevalent in Vietnam, culturally adapted and psychometrically validated tools to assess alcohol-related consequences and protective behavioral strategies are unavailable. This study aimed to translate into Vietnamese and evaluate the psychometric properties of two instruments: the Drinker Inventory of Consequences (DrInC) and the Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale-20 (PBSS-20).
Methods: Both instruments were translated into Vietnamese using Brislin’s forward–backward translation method, followed by expert panel review to establish content validity. Pre-testing was conducted with Vietnamese adult men to ensure cultural appropriateness and item clarity. Psychometric evaluation included assessments of internal consistency and inter-rater reliability. Data were collected from
a pilot sample (n = 30) and a main sample (n = 104) comprising men aged 35–44 years identified as having HAU.
Results: The Vietnamese versions showed strong semantic and conceptual equivalence to the original instruments. Mean expert ratings for language comparability and interpretability were below 2, indicating good equivalence. Content validity was high (scale-level CVI [S-CVI] > 0.90). Internal consistency was acceptable for both the DrInC (Cronbach’s α = 0.75) and the PBSS-20 (α = 0.79). Interrater reliability was excellent, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) above 0.85. Corrected item-total correlations ranged from -0.08 to 0.58 for the DrInC and -0.12 to 0.60 for the PBSS-20, with most items showing acceptable contributions. Split-half reliability coefficients were 0.67 for both scales, providing additional evidence of moderate internal consistency. Cultural adaptations, including clarification of idiomatic expressions, enhanced item clarity and relevance.
Conclusions: The Vietnamese DrInC and PBSS-20 are valid and reliable tools for evaluating alcohol-related consequences and protective strategies among Vietnamese men. These instruments can support both research and clinical efforts to address HAU in Vietnam.
Methods: Both instruments were translated into Vietnamese using Brislin’s forward–backward translation method, followed by expert panel review to establish content validity. Pre-testing was conducted with Vietnamese adult men to ensure cultural appropriateness and item clarity. Psychometric evaluation included assessments of internal consistency and inter-rater reliability. Data were collected from
a pilot sample (n = 30) and a main sample (n = 104) comprising men aged 35–44 years identified as having HAU.
Results: The Vietnamese versions showed strong semantic and conceptual equivalence to the original instruments. Mean expert ratings for language comparability and interpretability were below 2, indicating good equivalence. Content validity was high (scale-level CVI [S-CVI] > 0.90). Internal consistency was acceptable for both the DrInC (Cronbach’s α = 0.75) and the PBSS-20 (α = 0.79). Interrater reliability was excellent, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) above 0.85. Corrected item-total correlations ranged from -0.08 to 0.58 for the DrInC and -0.12 to 0.60 for the PBSS-20, with most items showing acceptable contributions. Split-half reliability coefficients were 0.67 for both scales, providing additional evidence of moderate internal consistency. Cultural adaptations, including clarification of idiomatic expressions, enhanced item clarity and relevance.
Conclusions: The Vietnamese DrInC and PBSS-20 are valid and reliable tools for evaluating alcohol-related consequences and protective strategies among Vietnamese men. These instruments can support both research and clinical efforts to address HAU in Vietnam.
Keyword(s): alcohol drinking • cultural adaptation • Drinker Inventory of Consequences • protective behavioral strategies • psychometrics
| Pages (from-to) | 213-223 |
| Journal | Frontiers of Nursing |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - Jun-2026 |
| ISBN | 2544-8994 |