Incorporating the AUDIT into a general population telephone survey: a methodological experiment

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychometrics
• Public Health

Background:

• The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a widely used screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption.
• Integrating the AUDIT into broader health surveys can enhance efficiency but may raise concerns about measurement properties.
• Investigating the impact of modifications to the AUDIT's structure is crucial for its practical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of altering the question order and wording of the AUDIT.
• To determine if modifications to the AUDIT affect its psychometric properties and scoring.
• To assess the feasibility of adapting the AUDIT for inclusion in comprehensive survey instruments.

Main Methods:

• A randomized experimental design was employed with 688 respondents.
• Participants were assigned to one of four conditions: intact order/original wording, intact order/revised wording, split order/original wording, or split order/revised wording.
• Statistical analysis was used to compare AUDIT scores across the different experimental groups.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in AUDIT scores were observed between the experimental conditions.
• Changes in question order (intact vs. split) did not yield discernible effects on respondent scores.
• Modifications to the wording of AUDIT questions also showed no impact on overall test scores.

Conclusions:

• The AUDIT demonstrates robust measurement properties, remaining valid even when its order or wording is altered.
• The AUDIT can be modified for integration into larger surveys without compromising its reliability or validity.
• These findings support the flexible use of the AUDIT in diverse research and clinical settings.