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Comparison of assessment methods for self-reported alcohol consumption in health interview surveys

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 62, pages 286–291 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To select a simple method for assessing alcohol consumption and to compare how different reference periods and response categories influence the self-reported frequency of binge drinking.

Design:

Four random samples of 1000 adult Danes. Data were collected via personal interview at the respondents' home.

Setting:

Denmark, nationwide.

Participants:

The total number of interviewed was 2593 individuals.

Measurements:

The assessment methods in the four samples were (1) the 7-day recall method, (2) intake each day in a typical week, (3) intake last weekend, and (4) intake in a typical week. Furthermore, binge drinking was assessed in the samples using different reference periods and response formats.

Findings:

The sex- and age-adjusted mean number of drinks in the last week (the 7-day recall method) was 10.6 drinks compared to 10.4 drinks among respondents reporting their intake for each day in a typical week and 8.7 drinks among subjects reporting the average intake in a typical week. Furthermore, subjects that reported their typical intake for each day were as likely as subjects that had the 7-day recall method to report a high weekly alcohol intake. Respondents who had close-ended questions were more likely to report binge drinking compared to respondents that had open-ended questions.

Conclusions:

Questions concerning typical alcohol intake for each day of the week are feasible to use in epidemiological studies. Furthermore, it is more appropriate to use close-ended questions compared to open-ended questions in measuring binge-drinking when the reference period is long.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark

    O Ekholm, K Strandberg-Larsen, K Christensen & M Grønbæk

Authors
  1. O Ekholm
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  2. K Strandberg-Larsen
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  3. K Christensen
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  4. M Grønbæk
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to O Ekholm.

Additional information

Contributors: OE and MG conceived the original idea, OE conducted the statistical analyses, OE, KS-L and KC drafted the manuscript, which all authors subsequently reviewed, edited and approved. MG contributed to the design of the survey questions and supervised the study.

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Ekholm, O., Strandberg-Larsen, K., Christensen, K. et al. Comparison of assessment methods for self-reported alcohol consumption in health interview surveys. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 286–291 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602728

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