Assessment methods for alcohol consumption, prevalence of high risk drinking and harm: a sensitivity analysis

• DOI: 10.1093/ije/28.2.219
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T22:23:22Z
• Authors: J. Rehm; T. K. Greenfield; G. Walsh; X. Xie; L. Robson; E. Single
• Keywords: Cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: There are no standardized ways to assess alcohol consumption in epidemiological studies. The main objective of the present study was compare three widely used methods for assessing with respect resulting prevalence estimates high risk drinking and harm as defined by morbidity mortality indicators. METHODS: A within-subjects design a quantity frequency, graduated weekly recall measure. Data consisted representative sample 3961 adult residents province Ontario, Canada, who participated multi-wave cross-sectional survey between 1990-1994. Cross-tabulation, Spearman correlation, standard methodologies prevalence-based cost-of-illness studies were used. RESULTS: frequency measure consistently yielded higher prevalences harm. Differences marked on all indicators, but most pronounced harmful consuming an average >60 g pure per day males, >40 females. Prevalence almost five times versus measures, measures. CONCLUSIONS: characteristics different measures should be considered future research epidemiology.