University of Rhode Island Change Assessment

The URICA is a 32-item measure that includes 4 subscales measuring the stages of change: precontemplation, contemplation, action, and maintenance. (There is also a 24-item version.) Responses are given on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strong disagreement) to 5 (strong agreement). The subscales can be combined arithmetically (C+A+M-PC) to yield a second-order continuous Readiness to Change score that can be used to assess readiness to change at entrance to treatment. The URICA assesses motivation for change by providing its scores on the four stages of change. Cluster analyses yielded five stages among adult outpatients entering alcoholism treatment: precontemplation, ambivalent, participation, uninvolved, and contemplation. In addition, motivation for change may be assessed using a second-order factor called Readiness to Change that seems useful at pretreatment. Clinicians may use the URICA to evaluate an individual's level of motivation for change and use this information to help guide treatment approaches. Subscale scores can be used to track shifts in attitudes related to the specific stages of change. In research, the URICA could be used to measure process and outcome variables for a variety of health and addictive behaviors. Care must be used in evaluating clients in a pre-post design since relationships among subscales shift as individuals move into action and maintenance. The URICA can be administered in about 5-10 minutes in either a self-report or interview format.