Alcohol use disorders identification test questions to screen trauma patients for alcoholism according to suggested guidelines

Soderstrom, Carl A.; Dischinger, Patricia C.; Kerns, Timothy J.; Kufera, Joseph A.; Smith, Gordon S.

Affiliations

¹R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

²Charles McC. Mathias National Study Center for Trauma and Emergency Medical Systems, Baltimore, Maryland

³The Johns Hopkins Injury Prevention Center, Baltimore, Maryland

Abstract

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) drinking pattern criteria to screen primary practice patients for alcohol problems were evaluated in trauma center patients. Crash victims and other patients were assessed for current alcohol dependence (CAD) using Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questions #1 and #2. Responses approximating NIAAA guidelines (HIGH threshold) and those indicating less drinking (LOW threshold) were compared with CAD diagnoses. When LOW threshold responses were used for either question, sensitivity to detect CAD increased in drivers and all other subgroups of subjects while specificity values remained high or at acceptable levels. Study findings suggest that lesser amounts of drinking be used as screening criteria for CAD among injured drivers and other groups of trauma center patients than among the general population.

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