Concurrent validity of the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT)

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Alcohol consumption poses significant public health challenges globally.
• Accurate screening tools are crucial for early identification and intervention of alcohol-related issues.
• The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a widely used screening instrument.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish optimal cut-off points for the AUDIT 10-item questionnaire.
• To differentiate between low-risk drinking (LRD), hazardous drinking (HZD), and alcohol use disorders (AUD).
• To validate these cut-offs in a sample of married men in Sri Lanka.

Main Methods:

• The AUDIT was administered to a sample of married men in Sri Lanka.
• Data from 62 LRD, 88 HZD, and 88 AUD participants were analyzed.
• Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine optimal cut-off values, comparing AUDIT with other validated instruments.

Main Results:

• ROC curve analysis yielded high accuracy, with areas under the curve of 0.96 for differentiating HZD + AUD from LRD, and 0.97 for differentiating AUD from HZD + LRD.
• The optimal cut-off values identified were 7 and 16.
• These cut-offs demonstrated favorable trade-offs between sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values.

Conclusions:

• The AUDIT is a reliable tool for screening LRD, HZD, and AUD in Sinhalese married men in Sri Lanka.
• The established cut-off points of 7 and 16 can be effectively utilized for clinical and research purposes.
• This study contributes to the culturally adapted application of alcohol screening tools in diverse populations.