Citation

Bright SJ, Fink A, Beck JC, Gabriel J, Singh D. Australas. J. Ageing 2013; 34(1): 33-37.

Affiliation

Peninsula Health, Frankston, Victoria, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Australian Council on the Ageing, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/ajag.12098

PMID

24118773

Abstract

AIM: The Alcohol-Related Problems Survey (ARPS) reliably classifies drinking as non-hazardous, hazardous or harmful using scoring algorithms that consider quantity and frequency of alcohol use alone and in combination with health conditions, medication-use and functional status. Because it has been developed using a 14-g US standard drink, it is not valid in Australia where a standard drink contains 10 g of ethanol.

METHOD: We recalibrated the ARPS scoring algorithms for a 10-g Australian standard drink and updated the medications. The Australian ARPS (A-ARPS) was then administered to 50 non-treatment-seeking participants in waves of five.

RESULTS: The A-ARPS recalibrated scoring algorithms reliably classified all 50 individuals. Sixty-six per cent were classified as hazardous or harmful drinkers. Many were taking medications that interact with alcohol or had medical conditions that can be exacerbated by alcohol consumption.

CONCLUSION: The A-ARPS is available for use in Australia. Its utilisation could reduce the incidence of alcohol-related harms.

Language: en