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Alcohol Consumption in Older Adults: A Comparison of Two Assessment Methods

Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, Stanford University

Abby C. King

Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, Stanford University

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 self-reported 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.

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