Self-reported alcohol consumption following alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes:​ a validity study in nondependent drinkers

Sommers, Marilyn Sawyer; Dyehouse, Janice M.; Howe, Steven R.; Lemmink, Jennifer; Volz, Tina; Wekselman, Kathryn; Manharth, Marjorie

Affiliations

¹University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Abstract

Self-reported alcohol consumption has become an important adjunct to brief intervention strategies used to reduce drinking after motor vehicle crashes (MVC). The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of self-reported alcohol consumption following an alcohol-related MVC in hospitalized nondependent drinkers. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was measured on admission. When the subjects were alcohol free, self-reported alcohol consumption was obtained and estimated BAC (EBAC) was calculated from self-reported data. Of 114 subjects (24 females; 90 males), only 5% (6 of 114) denied drinking prior to the crash. The correlation between BAC and EBAC was r=0.37 for females and r=0.36 for males. Males systematically under-reported but self-reports generally reflected drinking trends. Females both over-reported and under-reported drinking.

Cited Works (2)

Year	Entry
1996	Sommers MS, Dyehouse JM. Prevention of alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes: preliminary findings on the use of brief intervention strategies during hospitalization. In: 40th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 7-9, 1996; Vancouver, BC.525-526.
1974	Baker SP, O'Neill B, Haddon W Jr, Long WB. The injury severity score: a method for describing patients with multiple injuries and evaluating emergency care. J Trauma. March 1974;14(3):187-196.