The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71397

Eric D. Helmuth, MA¹, Anara Guard, MLS², Marc Belanger, MA¹, and Richard Saitz, MD, MPH³. (1) Join Together, Boston University School of Public Health, One Appleton Street, Boston, MA 02116, 617-437-1500, eric@jointogether.org, (2) Director of Information and Marketing, Join Together, Boston U SPH, One Appleton Street, Boston, MA 02116, (3) Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, 91 East Concord Street, Suite 200, Boston, MA 02118

Screening and brief interventions have been shown to be effective methods to help risky or problem drinkers change their drinking behavior. Since 2001, AlcoholScreening.org has offered individuals the opportunity to take the AUDIT and receive personalized feedback. The AUDIT question on maximum amounts was supplemented with a more specific response option to allow for customized feedback regarding at-risk per occasion (binge) amounts. The site draws from motivational interviewing theory and practice to provide normative feedback to users. More than 100,000 people have completed the questionnaire and received personalized information based upon their self-reported drinking behavior, age and gender. The widespread use of this alcohol screening web site may be attributable in part to several distinct advantages to online screening, including: anonymity for the user, twenty-four hour access to screening and information, automated data collection, and the ability to reach large numbers of Internet users, including people who might not be reached through other means. This session will describe the online screening site and present results, with a focus on April, Alcohol Awareness Month. The session will also describe how the site was successfully promoted online, and through print, media publicity and other methods.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to identify ways to integrate this enhanced AUDIT screening tool into their own websites, and to assess ways to promote the usage of online screening.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Screening Instruments

Related Web page: www.alcoholscreening.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.