URICA Calculator

What is the URICA?

The University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) is a 32-item self-report questionnaire that measures an individual's readiness to change a problematic behaviour. Based on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of behaviour change developed by James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente, the URICA assesses four stages of change: Precontemplation, Contemplation, Action, and Maintenance.

The URICA is widely used in substance use treatment, mental health settings, and health behaviour change programs. It helps clinicians understand where a client sits on the change continuum, informing motivational interviewing strategies and treatment planning.

How URICA Scoring Works

The URICA contains 32 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Items are distributed across four 8-item subscales:

Precontemplation (PC): Items 1, 5, 11, 13, 23, 26, 29, 31 Contemplation (C): Items 2, 4, 8, 12, 15, 19, 21, 24 Action (A): Items 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 20, 25, 30 Maintenance (M): Items 6, 9, 16, 18, 22, 27, 28, 32

Each subscale mean is calculated (sum ÷ 8). The Readiness to Change composite score is: C + A + M − PC. Higher composite scores indicate greater readiness for change.

Clinical Applications

The URICA is used across a range of clinical settings including drug and alcohol counselling, smoking cessation programs, chronic pain management, and general psychotherapy. It is particularly valuable in motivational interviewing (MI) frameworks, where understanding a client's stage of change guides the clinician's approach.

For clients in Precontemplation, the focus is on raising awareness. For those in Contemplation, exploring ambivalence is key. Clients in the Action stage benefit from skill-building and relapse prevention, while those in Maintenance need support to sustain gains.

URICA in Australian Practice

In Australian drug and alcohol services, the URICA is commonly used alongside the AUDIT and other substance screening tools. It is referenced in Australian clinical guidelines for motivational interviewing and stages-of-change-based interventions.

The instrument is freely available in the public domain, making it accessible across all Australian community health, AOD, and mental health settings without cost barriers.