The Use of AUDIT-C Screening Tool Essay

Introduction

Alcohol use data may be vital in making a proper diagnosis or treatment selection. Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Concise (AUDIT-C) takes the form of a short and concise survey that identifies probable alcohol dependence or abuse issues in a patient (“Instrument: AUDIT-C questionnaire,” n.d.). This tool is an essential part of many hospital units, as there are health issues that may be directly related to a person’s habitual alcohol intake. AUDIT-C is commonly used for individuals aged 16 and older, although it is based on prolonged substance use (Dutey-Magni et al., 2020). This notion makes AUDIT-C a suitable choice for behavioral studies. This assessment can be used for decisions in addiction treatments, transplant eligibility, and differential diagnoses for illnesses related to potentially damaged organs (Uljas et al., 2019; Verhalle et al., 2020). It is essential to comprehend the potential use of AUDIT-C in the healthcare environment, as it allows personnel to apply it more efficiently.

Discussion

First, AUDIT-C requires an understanding of the underlying implications of its measurements. This assessment was tested on a broad population within the stated bracket and took into account a proportional representation of different sexes, ethnic groups, ages, and risk level categories (Dutey-Magni et al., 2020). Clinical guidelines that take note of AUDIT-C come with slight adjustments already calculated for different populations for a better representation of tolerance levels.

The predictive ability of AUDIT-C can be compared with other similar assessments to determine its utility. AUDIT-C provides results similar to Tolerance-Annoyance-Cut Down-Eye Opener (T-ACE), Five-shot, and other tools that measure substance abuse levels (Verhalle et al., 2020). Simultaneously, AUDIT-C indicates the possibility of damage done by this behavioral issue. AUDIT-C scores are not directly linked to any particular illness and do not point toward specific organ failures or treatment choices (Uljas et al., 2019). However, this survey can indicate a possible direction for further investigation. The reliability and validity values of AUDIT-C are estimated weekly alcohol consumption rates and pure ethanol units consumed, which the test represents with great success, scoring close to each parameter when measured through different means (Dutey-Magni et al., 2020). Moreover, it is possible to check the results of this survey with a medical assessment of alcohol units’ consumption impact. This tool can predict the impact of its values on disability-adjusted life years (Dutey-Magni et al., 2020). Therefore, AUDIT-C has a prominent role in medical practice, especially in screening procedures.

Data gathered through AUDIT-C correlates well with scientific tests that measure the prevalence of related risks and outcomes, although there is a slight positive bias for lower intake volumes (Dutey-Magni et al., 2020). This notion makes AUDIT-C fit for use, although additional tests remain required for more precise information. However, AUDIT-C is evidently suitable as an initial test for further probing into a person’s history of substance use, as it is sensitive to proper parameters that give medically relevant data.

Conclusion

In conclusion, AUDIT-C is a feasible tool for alcohol use measurements. AUDIT-C allows healthcare professionals to avoid unnecessary tests, provide valid suggestions, and make informed decisions. AUDIT-C is proven to be reliable and measures its intended parameters well, enabling people to judge the necessity of further testing of a patient’s alcohol intake. After reading about this test, I will incorporate AUDIT-C in my practice when needed, as it appears to be reliable, short, and easily understood by both patients and healthcare personnel. This assessment shares a sufficient amount of evidence regarding one’s behavioral and possible health issues stemming from substance use.

References

Dutey-Magni, P., Brown, J., Holmes, J., & Sinclair, J. (2020). Concurrent validity of an estimator of weekly alcohol consumption (EWAC) based on the extended AUDIT. Addiction, 117(3), 580–589. Web.

Instrument: AUDIT-C questionnaire. (n.d.). NIDA CTN Common Data Elements. Web.

Uljas, E., Jalkanen, V., Kuitunen, A., Hynninen, M., & Hästbacka, J. (2019). Prevalence of risk—drinking in critically ill patients, screened with carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin and AUDIT‐C score: A retrospective study. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, 64(2), 216–223. Web.

Verhalle, L., Van Bockstaele, K., Duerinckx, N., Vanhoof, J., Dierickx, K., Neyens, L., Van Cleemput, J., Gryp, S., Kums, D., De Bondt, K., Schaevers, V., Demuynck, F., Dewispelaere, A., Dobbels, F., Breunig, C., De Geest, S., Goris, K., Pierco, L., & Puttevils, E. (2020). How to screen for at‐risk alcohol use in transplant patients? From instrument selection to implementation of the AUDIT‐C. Clinical Transplantation, 35(1). Web.