Screening elderly veterans for alcoholism.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the sensitivity and specificity of an alcoholism screening test not previously tested in the elderly.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study, face-to-face interviews.


METHODS
Veterans Administration (VA) outpatient facility.


METHODS
Men greater than or equal to 70 years old seeking care in a newly established VA outpatient facility were invited to participate in a health assessment program. Of 109 participants who enrolled, 96 completed both interviews.


METHODS
The screening test was administered by an internist as part of a medical history. The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), used as the "gold standard," was administered by a trained interviewer as part of a longer structured interview.


RESULTS
The screening test had a sensitivity of 0.52 and a specificity of 0.76 in this sample.


CONCLUSIONS
The sensitivity and specificity of the screening test were lower in this sample in comparison with previously reported results in a younger population. Differences in the test performance may be related to differences in attitudes and drinking behaviors of elderly veterans when compared with those of younger men and women.
Moran
M B
MB
Veterans Administration Lakeside Medical Center, Evanston, Illinois.
Naughton
B J
BJ
Hughes
S L
SL
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014728:Veterans