Manjula D Nugawela1, Tessa Langley2, Lisa Szatkowski2, Sarah Lewis2. 1. Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies, University of Nottingham, Nottingham City Hospital, Clinical Sciences Building, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK mcxmdnug@nottingham.ac.uk. 2. Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies, University of Nottingham, Nottingham City Hospital, Clinical Sciences Building, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK.
Abstract
AIMS: To review the international guidelines and recommendations on survey instruments for measurement of alcohol consumption in population surveys and to examine how national surveys in England meet the core recommendations. METHODS: A systematic search for international guidelines for measuring alcohol consumption in population surveys was undertaken. The common core recommendations for alcohol consumption measures and survey instruments were identified. Alcohol consumption questions in national surveys in England were compared with these recommendations for specific years and over time since 2000. RESULTS: Four sets of international guidelines and three core alcohol consumption measures (alcohol consumption status, average volume of consumption, frequency and volume of heavy episodic drinking) with another optional measure (drinking context) were identified. English national surveys have been inconsistent over time in including questions that provide information on average volume of consumption but have not included questions on another essential alcohol consumption measure, frequency of heavy episodic drinking. Instead, they have used questions that focus only on maximum volume of alcohol consumed on any day in the previous week. CONCLUSIONS: International guidelines provide consistent recommendations for measuring alcohol consumption in population surveys. These recommendations have not been consistently applied in English national surveys, and this has contributed to the inadequacy of survey measurements for monitoring vital aspects of alcohol consumption in England over recent years.
AIMS: To review the international guidelines and recommendations on survey instruments for measurement of alcohol consumption in population surveys and to examine how national surveys in England meet the core recommendations. METHODS: A systematic search for international guidelines for measuring alcohol consumption in population surveys was undertaken. The common core recommendations for alcohol consumption measures and survey instruments were identified. Alcohol consumption questions in national surveys in England were compared with these recommendations for specific years and over time since 2000. RESULTS: Four sets of international guidelines and three core alcohol consumption measures (alcohol consumption status, average volume of consumption, frequency and volume of heavy episodic drinking) with another optional measure (drinking context) were identified. English national surveys have been inconsistent over time in including questions that provide information on average volume of consumption but have not included questions on another essential alcohol consumption measure, frequency of heavy episodic drinking. Instead, they have used questions that focus only on maximum volume of alcohol consumed on any day in the previous week. CONCLUSIONS: International guidelines provide consistent recommendations for measuring alcohol consumption in population surveys. These recommendations have not been consistently applied in English national surveys, and this has contributed to the inadequacy of survey measurements for monitoring vital aspects of alcohol consumption in England over recent years.
Authors: Jürgen Rehm; Robin Room; Kathryn Graham; Maristela Monteiro; Gerhard Gmel; Christopher T Sempos Journal: Addiction Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 6.526
Authors: José Manuel Martinez-Montilla; Liesbeth Mercken; Hein de Vries; Math Candel; Joaquín Salvador Lima-Rodríguez; Marta Lima-Serrano Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2020-01-24 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Carolin Kilian; Jakob Manthey; Charlotte Probst; Geir S Brunborg; Elin K Bye; Ola Ekholm; Ludwig Kraus; Jacek Moskalewicz; Janusz Sieroslawski; Jürgen Rehm Journal: Alcohol Alcohol Date: 2020-08-14 Impact factor: 2.826
Authors: Frank de Vocht; Jamie Brown; Emma Beard; Colin Angus; Alan Brennan; Susan Michie; Rona Campbell; Matthew Hickman Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2016-09-01 Impact factor: 3.295