The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test AUDIT

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The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

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The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is one of the most common

substance use disorder testing instruments. The instrument was developed by the World Health

Organization to assess whether the level of one’s alcohol usage is excessive and harmful to their

health. The tool assesses alcohol usage in both adults and adolescents. According to the WHO

(n.d.), AUDIT was developed over twenty years and has evidence for validity in measuring

alcohol use across cultures, gender, and age in resonance with the increasing diversity of

populations that care providers serve. The evidence for the AUDIT’s validity is important

because it indicates that instrument measures what it purports to measure and is therefore

reliable.

There are other reasons why the AUDIT is used besides its validity. According to Fiellin,

Reid, and O'Connor (2013), formal screening using AUDIT supports identifying usage across the

entire spectrum of alcohol use. This capability is consistent with the primary goal of using

substance use disorder tests and allows care providers to go beyond just identifying excessive

usage to include identifying individuals who are at risk of falling into excessive use of alcohol.

This broad identification can help prevent individuals from sliding into high-risk use of the

substance. Simplicity is also an important factor promoting the use of the instrument. Kaye,

Vadivelu, and Urman (2014) observed that methodological difficulties are a major issue when

considering the screening methods available. The simplicity of the AUDIT enhances the ease of

the screening process. This tool has 10 items, making it simple and convenient for both the care

provider and the patient.

The AUDIT is easy to administer and score. The instrument can be self-administered or

administered by the care provider (Kaye, Vadivelu, & Urman, 2014, p. 232). The caregiver

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informs the patient of their intention to ask the latter a few questions about their alcohol usage.

This statement is followed by a simple explanation of alcoholic beverages. The clinician or

patient then asks or reads the items one at a time and checks the right box next to the question.

Kaye, Vadivelu, and Urman (2014) noted that although the AUDIT can be self-administered due

to its ease of reading and simple language, the preferred mode of administering is by a clinician.

Tan, Hungerford, Denny, and McKnight-Elly (2016) also argued that the AUDIT can be used

effectively in a self-administered manner if the anticipated reading level and understanding of

English are not likely to be an obstacle. Accordingly, the ideal mode of administering the

AUDIT is by a caregiver.

Scoring the AUDIT is straightforward. The sum of the test item scores is determined and

the score compared to cutoff values for various levels of alcohol use. According to WHO (n.d.),

patients with a score of 8 or higher are considered to have harmful alcohol use. Those with a

score of 7 or less are at low risk while those with a score of 20 or higher are at the highest risk of

alcohol disorder. Patients at low risk, represented by a score of 7 or less, do not need an

intervention. Patients with a score above 7 but less than 16 are at moderate risk and require a

brief intervention involving advice. Patients with a score from 16 to 19 are at high risk and

require counseling. Those at high risk, represented by a score of 20 or higher, require further

assessments and intensive intervention as they are likely to have developed or are on the verge of

developing alcohol dependency.

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References

Fiellin, D. A., Reid, C. M., & O'Connor, P. G. (2013). Screening for Alcohol Problems in

Primary Care. JAMA Internal Medicine, 160(13), 1977-1989.

Kaye, A. D., Vadivelu, N., & Urman, R. D. (2014). Substance Abuse: Inpatient and Outpatient

Management for Every Clinician. New York: Springer.

Tan, C. H., Hungerford, D. W., Denny, D. W., & McKnight-Elly, L. R. (2016). Screening for

alcohol misuse: practices among US primary care providers, docstyles. American journal

of preventive medicine, 54(2), 173-180.

WHO. (n.d.). Management of substance abuse: Screening and brief intervention for alcohol

problems in primary health care. Retrieved from World Health Organization:

http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/activities/sbi/en/

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