What Is AUDIT?
AUDIT — the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test — was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a simple, validated method for screening for excessive drinking and assisting in brief assessment. It helps identify excessive drinking as a potential cause of presenting illness and provides a framework for intervention to help hazardous and harmful drinkers reduce or cease alcohol consumption.
The test has enjoyed widespread use by both health workers and alcohol researchers worldwide.
The majority of excessive drinkers are undiagnosed. They often present with symptoms or problems that would not normally be linked to their drinking. AUDIT helps clinicians uncover the connection.
What AUDIT Identifies
AUDIT was developed to screen for excessive drinking and, in particular, to help practitioners identify people who would benefit from reducing or ceasing drinking. The test distinguishes between three levels of problematic alcohol use:
- Hazardous (risky) drinking — consumption that poses a risk of harm
- Harmful drinking — consumption that is already causing physical or mental harm
- Alcohol dependence — loss of control over drinking behavior
Benefits of Alcohol Screening in Primary Care
Screening for alcohol consumption among patients in primary care carries many potential benefits:
- Provides an opportunity to educate patients about low-risk consumption levels and the risks of excessive alcohol use
- Information about consumption frequency may inform the diagnosis of the patient's presenting condition
- Alerts clinicians to the need to advise patients whose alcohol consumption might adversely affect medications and other treatments
- Enables preventative measures that have proven effective in reducing alcohol-related risks
AUDIT vs. AUDIT-C
The full AUDIT consists of 10 questions. The AUDIT-C is a shortened 3-question version focused solely on consumption frequency and quantity — useful as a quick screen when the full test isn't feasible. A positive AUDIT-C result should prompt the full AUDIT.
Memento's AUDIT implementation is available in both English and Spanish. Patients complete it on any tablet before the appointment, and risk color-coded results appear in the patient note before the physician enters the exam room.