Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Persian Version of the Drug-Taking Confidence Questionnaire (DTCQ-IV): A Relapse Prevention Tool for Iran’s Opioid Crisis

BACKGROUND: Coping self-efficacy is a critical factor in treatment outcomes and relapse patterns among individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). In Iran, relapse rates associated with low coping self-efficacy remain significantly high. This study aimed to validate the Persian version of the Drug-Taking Confidence Questionnaire (DTCQ-IV) among Iranian male individuals with SUDs. METHODS: The original DTCQ-IV was translated into Persian, culturally adapted, and back-translated. The questionnaire was administered to 500 male patients undergoing treatment at rehabilitation centers in Kermanshah, Iran. Data were analyzed using SPSS-21, with a McDonald's Omega and Pearson correlation coefficients assessing internal consistency and test-retest reliability, respectively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA, CFA) were conducted to evaluate the scale's structure. RESULTS: The Persian DTCQ-IV demonstrated strong reliability, with a McDonald's Omega of 0.882 and a test-retest reliability of 0.85 over four weeks. CFA confirmed the eight-factor structure of the original DTCQ-IV, indicating a good model fit for the Iranian sample. CONCLUSION: The Persian DTCQ-IV exhibits robust psychometric properties, making it a valid tool for assessing coping self-efficacy and predicting treatment outcomes among Iranian male individuals with SUDs.