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Opportunistic screening for alcohol use problems in adolescents attending emergency departments: an evaluation of screening tools

Coulton, Simon, Fasihul Alam, M., Boniface, Sadie, Deluca, Paolo, Donoghue, Kim, Gilvarry, E., Kaner, Eileen, Lynch, Ellen, Maconochie, Ian, McArdle, Paul, and others. (2018) Opportunistic screening for alcohol use problems in adolescents attending emergency departments: an evaluation of screening tools. Journal of Public Health, . pp. 1-8. ISSN 1741-3842. (doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdy049) (KAR id:66583)

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.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1093/pubmed/fdy049
Uncontrolled keywords: adolescent, alcohol, diagnosis, screening
Subjects: H Social Sciences
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Depositing User: Simon Coulton
Date Deposited: 29 Mar 2018 11:17 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Jul 2023 11:16 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/66583 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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