AUDIT-C shows reliability when used online in patient portals

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption (AUDIT-C) is a validated screen, but until recently has not been evaluated in routine conditions for adult primary care patients. A new study has found that AUDIT-C screens have “excellent” test-retest reliability, which assesses the consistency of results when given at two different times. Excellent test-retest reliability means that there are similar results across separate test administrations, and the study, supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), shows that the AUDIT-C can be used reliably in adult primary care patients. The study, led by Claire B. Simon, M.D., of the University of Washington in Seattle, used electronic health record (EHR) data from Kaiser Permanente. For the study, more than 18,000 adult primary care patients completed two AUDIT-C screens at 1 to 21 days apart as part of routine care in 2021. Screen results were reliable whether completed in person or online through patient portals. However, reliability was higher when the patient completed both screens using online patient portals, compared to completing both screens in the clinic or one in the clinic and one online. Therefore, completing two screens may be a better option than just doing one. The study, High test–retest reliability of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption (AUDIT-C) questionnaire completed by primary care patients in routine care, is published in the February 2024 issue of Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research. The researchers also found that reliability was lower for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) patients and multiracial patients.