title: Severity of alcohol problems and readiness to change alcohol use in primary care.
abstract: Screening measures for hazardous alcohol use that are efficient and can provide clinically relevant information are essential for primary care providers (PCPs). This study examined the clinical utility of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the AUDIT-Consumption (AUDIT-C) as predictors of readiness to change alcohol use in a primary care setting. In total, 114 veterans completed the AUDIT, readiness to change ruler, and an alcohol use disorders diagnostic interview. Two AUDIT-C scores were obtained; one administered during a primary care visit and one derived from the AUDIT. The AUDIT, both AUDIT-C scores, and number of dependence symptoms significantly predicted readiness to change independent of demographic variables. The AUDIT accounted for the greatest percentage of variance in readiness to change (19%). The AUDIT provides information about alcohol severity and readiness to change, which could be clinically useful for providers identifying patients for brief alcohol interventions.
authors.affiliation: VA Center for Integrated Healthcare, 800 Irving Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. mkrenek@syr.edu
authors.forename: Marketa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krenek
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Maisto
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Funderburk
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Drayer
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology