Cited by 339Survey Methodology and NonresponseAlcohol Consumption and Health EffectsSubstance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Alcohol measurement methodology in epidemiology: recent advances and opportunities

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Greenfield, Thomas K., Kerr, William C.·2008·Addiction

Abstract

Aim To review and discuss measurement issues in survey assessment of alcohol consumption for epidemiological studies. Methods The following areas are considered: implications of cognitive studies of question answering such as self‐referenced schemata of drinking, reference period and retrospective recall, as well as the assets and liabilities of types of current (e.g. food frequency, quantity–frequency, graduated frequencies and heavy drinking indicators) and life‐time drinking measures. Finally we consider units of measurement and improving measurement by detailing the ethanol content of drinks in natural settings. Results and conclusions Cognitive studies suggest inherent limitations in the measurement enterprise, yet diary studies show promise of broadly validating methods that assess a range of drinking amounts per occasion; improvements in survey measures of drinking in the life course are indicated; attending in detail to on‐ and off‐premise drink pour sizes and ethanol concentrations of various beverages shows promise of narrowing the coverage gap plaguing survey alcohol measurement.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02197.x

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  1. [4]4. Greenfield T. K. Individual risk of alcohol-related disease and problems. In: Heather N., Peters T. J., Stockwell T., editors. International Handbook of Alcohol Problems and Dependence. NewYork: John Wiley; 2001, p. 413-37.
  2. [11]11. DawsonD.A.Measuringalcoholconsumption: limitations and prospects for improvement. Addiction 1998; 93 : 965-8; discussion 69-77.
  3. [13]13. Rehm J. Measuring alcohol consumption: how about adopting usual epidemiological standards? Addiction 1998; 93 : 970-2.
  4. [16]16. Mäkelä K. Irregularities matter: Comments on Dawson's 'Measuring alcohol consumption: limitations and prospects for improvement'. Addiction 1998; 93 : 969-77.
  5. [62]62. Greenfield T. K., Bond J., Ye Y., Kerr W. C., Anton R., Kranzler H. R. Improving outcome measures for trials of new compounds for treating alcohol dependence [Abstract]. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2004; 28 : 33a.
  6. [171]171. Greenfield T. K., Tujague J., Bond J., Kerr W. C. A pilot study of self-report alcohol consumption: diary versus transdermal alcohol sensor accuracy [Abstract]. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2005; 29 : 130A.

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Authors
Greenfield, T. K., & Kerr, W. C.
Affiliations
Public Health Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Greenfield, Thomas K.
Venue
Addiction
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2008-04-16
Volume
103
Issue
7
Pages
1082-1099
ISSN
  • 0965-2140 (ISSN-L)
  • 1360-0443
OpenAlex
W2065332653
Cited by
339
References
163
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 19
FWCI
12.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Addiction (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (P30AA005595, R01AA013309)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Survey Methodology and Nonresponse
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
Keywords
alcohol consumption measurement, self-reported drinking, survey question wording, reference period, retrospective recall, food frequency questionnaire, diary study, measurement error, coverage gaps
MeSH terms
Alcohol Drinking, Ethanol, Female, Humans, Male, Patient Compliance, Public Health, Alcohol-Related Disorders

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