Alcohol consumption patterns of older adults: a study in a regional town in Western Australia

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to demonstrate that opportunistic health screening at health expos can provide an overall impression of alcohol consumption patterns.

Design: A repeated cross-sectional survey design, completed over a four-year period (2011–2014), was used to assess the risk of harmful alcohol consumption, within a community setting of older adults, in the South West region of Western Australia.

Methods: An alcohol screening survey (AUDIT) was used to collect data on alcohol consumption patterns on those aged 65 years and over. A total of 411 surveys were completed.

Results: There was a statistically significant difference in mean risk scores across the four years (p < .001). 6.3–22.2% of survey completers presented as ‘risky’, and a further 3.8–12.3% as ‘high risk’ in terms of alcohol consumption.

Conclusions: Opportunistic screening for alcohol consumption during health expos can aid the identification of at-risk individuals who may require further education or treatment.

Keywords:

• Alcohol consumption
• older adults
• screening
• health promotion

ORCID

Renee Graham http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8725-0296

Gideon de Jong http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9439-2188

Jennie Sharp http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9490-7516

Saskia Maes http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1780-238X