ENHANCING ALCOHOL USE SELF-REPORT: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE ALCOHOL USE DISORDERS IDENTIFICATION TEST
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21134/1067Keywords:
Alcohol self-report, harmful drinking, screening, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, alcohol related-problems.Abstract
Objective: We examined whether rearranging the order of items and response options in the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) could improve its psychometric properties. Method: We conducted a 2x2 factorial experiment with an Argentinian general population sample (n=1128; M=37.29 years, SD=11.93; 75.9% cis-women). We randomly assigned participants to one of four AUDIT versions, varying the order of item presentation (alcohol consumption first vs. alcohol-related problems first) and response options ("never" to "daily/almost daily" vs. reverse order). Results: Versions presenting alcohol-related problems first showed higher reliability. The version with alcohol-related problems first and response options in reverse order had the highest internal consistency (?=.88). Endorsement for alcohol-related problems was also higher in these versions, regardless of response option order. The versions presenting items about alcohol-related problems first also showed better item performance, regardless of the response options' order. Conclusions: the order of response options seems irrelevant, but presenting items about alcohol-related problems first appears to enhance the AUDIT's performance. This change could facilitate the adequate identification of people needing assistance from health services, which future studies should further explore.
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