Opportunistic screening for alcohol use problems in adolescents attending emergency departments: an evaluation of screening tools. (26th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coulton, Simon; Alam, M Fasihul; Boniface, Sadie; Deluca, Paolo; Donoghue, Kim; Gilvarry, Eilish; Kaner, Eileen; Lynch, Ellen; Maconochie, Ian; McArdle, Paul; McGovern, Ruth; Newbury-Birch, Dorothy; Patton, Robert; Phillips, Ceri J; Phillips, Thomas; Rose, Hannah; Russell, Ian; Strang, John; Drummond, Colin
• Is Part Of: Journal of public health. Volume 41:Number 1(2019:Mar.)
• Page Start: e53
• Page End: e60
• Publication Date: 2018-03-26
• Subjects: adolescent -- alcohol -- diagnosis -- screening; Public health -- Periodicals; Public health -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdy049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-3842

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To estimate and compare the optimal cut-off score of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and AUDIT-C in identifying at-risk alcohol consumption, heavy episodic alcohol use, ICD-10 alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence in adolescents attending ED in England. Design: Opportunistic cross-sectional survey. Setting: 10 emergency departments across England. Participants: Adolescents ( n = 5377) aged between their 10th and 18th birthday who attended emergency departments between December 2012 and May 2013. Measures: Scores on the AUDIT and AUDIT-C. At-risk alcohol consumption and monthly episodic alcohol consumption in the past 3 months were derived using the time-line follow back method. Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence was assessed in accordance with ICD-10 criteria using the MINI-KID. Findings: AUDIT-C with a score of 3 was more effective for at-risk alcohol use (AUC 0.81; sensitivity 87%, specificity 97%), heavy episodic use (0.84; 76%, 98%) and alcohol abuse (0.98; 91%, 90%). AUDIT with a score of 7 was more effective in identifying alcohol dependence (0.92; 96%, 94%). Conclusions: The 3-item AUDIT-C is more effective than AUDIT in screening adolescents for at-risk alcohol use, heavy episodic alcohol use and alcohol abuse. AUDIT is more effective than AUDIT-C for the identification of alcohol dependence.