Validity of the Paddington Alcohol Test in an Australian emergency department

Fulbrook, Paul, Lawrence, Petra, and Watt, Kerrianne (2015) Validity of the Paddington Alcohol Test in an Australian emergency department. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 50 (4). pp. 407-412.

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Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to validate a modified version of the Paddington Alcohol Test for use in the Australian emergency department (ED) setting.

Methods A cross sectional survey was used to screen patients attending an Australian tertiary hospital ED. Data were collected over a three-month period at randomly allocated time periods and days. Consenting participants were screened using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and a modified-for-Australia version of the Paddington Alcohol Test (AusPAT). The association between the two tools was investigated, as well as the sensitivity and specificity of AusPAT at various AUDIT cut-off scores and by gender and age group.

Results The sample comprised 637 ED attendees. Their mean age was 49.9 (SD 20.0) years with a mean AUDIT score of 5.21 (SD 6.58). Most (73.2%) consumed alcohol, and a quarter was AusPAT-positive (n = 153, 24.0%). AusPAT demonstrated a moderate fit with AUDIT at a cut-off score of 8 (Kappa = 0.63, P < 0.001). At this cut-off 23.4% (n = 149) were identified by AUDIT as problematic drinkers. AusPAT sensitivity was 72.5% (95% CI 65.3–79.7) with a specificity of 90.8% (95% CI 88.3–93.4).

Conclusion Our results indicate that AusPAT was moderately well associated with AUDIT. When used universally in the ED setting, its sensitivity and specificity were moderate.

Item ID: 41884
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1464-3502
Funders: Prince Charles Hospital Foundation
Projects and Grants: Prince Charles Hospital Foundation NR2010-220
Date Deposited: 08 Dec 2015 18:34
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920499 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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