title: Inconsistency in reporting abstention and heavy drinking frequency: associations with sex and socioeconomic status, and potential impacts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe inconsistencies in reporting past-year drinking status and heavy drinking occasions (HDOs) on single questions from two different instruments, and to identify associated characteristics and impacts.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared computer-presented Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) with categorical response options, and mental health interview (MHI) with open-ended consumption questions, completed on the same day. Participants were 464 men and 459 women aged 38 (91.7% of surviving birth cohort members). Differences in dichotomous single-item measures of abstention and HDO frequency, associations of inconsistent reporting with sex, socioeconomic status (SES) and survey order, and impacts of instrument choice on associations of alcohol with sex and SES were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AUDIT-C drinking frequency question estimated higher past-year abstention prevalence (AUDIT = 7.6%, MHI = 5.4%), with one-third of AUDIT-C abstainers being MHI drinkers. Only AUDIT-C produced significant sex differences in abstainer prevalence. Inconsistencies in HDO classifications were bidirectional, but with fewer HDOs reported on the MHI than AUDIT-C question. Lower SES was associated with inconsistency in abstention and weekly+ HDOs. Abstention and higher HDO frequency were associated with lower SES overall, but sex-specific associations differed by instrument.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this context, data collection method affected findings, with inconsistencies in abstention reports having most impact. Future studies should: (a) confirm self-reported abstention; (b) consider piloting data collection methods in target populations; (c) expect impacts of sex and SES on measurements and analyses.
authors: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand robyn.kydd@otago.ac.nz.
authors: Robyn M
authors: RM
authors: Kydd
authors: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
authors: Jennie
authors: J
authors: Connor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064829:Alcohol Abstinence / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
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