Two methods of assessing alcohol consumption in older adults were compared. Participants (52 men, 82 women) recruited through random-digit-dial telephone contacts completed a survey that included a section on alcohol consumption. Within 1 month, participants completed a paper-and-pencil dietary intake questionnaire (EPAT) that included an alcohol consumption item. The two alcohol assessment measures were significantly correlated (r = –.75); however, 13% reported greater alcohol consumption on the EPAT, and only 1.5% reported higher consumption on the alcohol survey. Rates of agreement were lower among participants who drank more than the sample average (32% reported greater alcohol consumption on the dietary measure). Embedding questions within a more general dietary intake assessment may enhance selfreported alcohol consumption in older adults. Dietary measures such as the EPAT are practical for clinical use because they provide alcohol and nutritional information, areas that should be routinely assessed, and they are brief and easy to administer.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Adams, W. L.
(1995). Interactions between alcohol and other drugs. The International Journal of the Addictions, 30, 1903-1923.
2.
Adams, W. L.
, Barry, K. L., & Fleming, M. F. (1996). Screening for problem drinking in older primary care patients. Journal of the American Medical Association, 276, 1964-1967.
3.
Adams, W. L.
, Garry, P. J., Rhyne, R., Hunt, W. C., & Goodwin, J. S. (1990). Alcohol intake in the healthy elderly: Changes with age in a cross-sectional and longitudinal study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 38, 211-216.
4.
American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs
. (1996). Alcoholism in the elderly. Journal of the American Medical Association, 275, 797-801.
5.
Dufour, M. C.
, Archer, L., & Gordis, E. (1992). Alcohol and the elderly. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 8, 127-141.
6.
Dufour, M. C.
, & Fuller, R. K. (1995). Alcohol in the elderly. Annual Review of Medicine, 46, 123-132.
7.
Embree, B. G.
,& Whitehead, P. C. (1993). Validity and reliability of self-reported drinking behavior: Dealing with the problem of response bias. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 54, 334-344.
8.
Ewing, J. A.
(1984). Detecting alcoholism: The CAGE questionnaire. Journal of the American Medical Association, 252, 1905-1907.
9.
Ferraroni, M.
, Decarli, A., Franceschi, S., La Vecchia, C., Enard, L., Negri, E., Parpinel, M., & Salvini, S. (1996). Validity and reproducibility of alcohol consumption in Italy. International Journal of Epidemiology, 25, 775-782.
10.
Fink, A.
, Hays, R. D., Moore, A. A.,& Beck, J. C. (1996). Alcohol-related problems in older persons: Determinants, consequences, and screening. Archives of Internal Medicine, 156, 1150-1156.
11.
Flegal, K. M.
(1990). Agreement between two dietary methods in the measurement of alcohol consumption. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 51, 408-414.
12.
Giovannucci, E.
, Colditz, G., Stampfer, M. J., Rimm, E. B., Litin, L., Sampson, L., & Willett, W. C. (1991). The assessment of alcohol consumption by a simple self-administered questionnaire. American Journal of Epidemiology, 133, 810-817.
13.
Graham, K.
(1986). Identifying and measuring alcohol abuse among the elderly: Serious problems with existing instrumentation. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 47, 322-326.
14.
Jones, T. V.
, Lindsey, B. A., Yount, P., Soltys, R., & Farani-Enayat, B. (1993). Alcoholism screening questionnaires: Are they valid in elderly medical outpatients?Journal of General Internal Medicine, 8, 674-678.
15.
King, A. C.
(1994). Enhancing the self-report of alcohol consumption in the community: Two questionnaire formats. American Journal of Public Health, 84, 294-296.
16.
King, A. C.
, & Brassington, G. (1997). Enhancing physical and psychological functioning in older family caregivers: The role of regular physical activity. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 19, 91-100.
17.
King, A. C.
, Oka, R., Pruitt, L., Phillips,W., & Haskell, W. L. (1997). Developing optimal exercise regimens for seniors: A clinical trial [Abstract]. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 19, S056-S056.
18.
Midanik, L.T.
(1982). Over-reports of recent alcohol consumption in a clinical population: A validity study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 9, 101-110.
19.
Midanik, L. T.
(1988). Validity of self-reported alcohol use: A literature review and assessment. British Journal of Addiction, 83, 1019-1029.
20.
Parker, D. R.
, Derby, C. A., Usner, D. W., Gonzalez, S., Lapane, K. L.,& Carleton, R. A. (1996). Self-reported alcohol intake using two different question formats in southeastern New England. International Journal of Epidemiology, 25, 770-774.
21.
Peters, J. R.
, Quiter, E. S., Brekke, M. L., Admire, J., Brekke, M. J., Mullis, R. M., & Hunninghake, D. B. (1994). The Eating Pattern Assessment Tool: A simple instrument for assessing dietary fat and cholesterol intake. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 94, 1008-1013.
22.
Poikolainen, K.
(1985). Underestimation of recalled alcohol intake in relation to actual consumption. British Journal of Addiction, 80, 215-216.
23.
Redman, S.
, Sanson-Fisher, R. W., Wilkinson, C., Fahey, P. P.,& Gibberd, R. W. (1987). Agreement between two measures of alcohol consumption. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 48, 104-108.
24.
Selzer, M. L.
(1971). The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test: The quest for a new diagnostic instrument. American Journal of Psychiatry, 127, 1653-1658.
25.
Szwabo, P. A.
(1993). Substance abuse in older women. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 9, 197-208.
26.
Thibault, J. M.
, & Maly, R. C. (1993). Recognition and treatment of substance abuse in the elderly. Substance Abuse, 20, 155-165.
27.
U.S. Bureau of the Census
. (1985). National Health Interview Survey. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
28.
Vestal, R. E.
,& Cusack, B. J. (1990). Pharmacology and aging. In E. L. Schneider& J. W. Rowe (Eds.), Handbook of the biology of aging(3rd ed., pp. 349-383). San Diego: Academic Press.
29.
Williams, G. D.
, Dufour, M., & Bertolucci, D. (1986). Drinking levels, knowledge, and associated characteristics, 1985 NHIS findings. Public Health Reports, 101, 593-598.
30.
Witte, J. S.
,& Haile, R. W. (1996). Agreement in alcohol consumption levels as measured by two different questionnaires. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 57, 406-409.
31.
Zimberg, S.
(1996). Treating alcoholism: An age-specific intervention that works for older patients. Geriatrics, 51, 45-49.
