Document Detail


Comparing the effectiveness of TWEAK and T-ACE in determining problem drinkers in pregnancy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20497951     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
AIM: The TWEAK and T-ACE screening tools are validated methods of identifying problem drinking in a pregnant population. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the TWEAK and T-ACE screening tools in identifying problem drinking using traditional cut-points (CP). METHODS: Study participants consisted of women calling the Motherisk Alcohol Helpline for information regarding their alcohol use in pregnancy. In this cohort, concerns surrounding underreporting are not likely as women self-report their alcohol consumption. Participant's self-identification, confirmed by her amount of alcohol use, determined whether she was a problem drinker or not. The TWEAK and T-ACE tools were administered on both groups and subsequent analysis was done to determine if one tool was more effective in predicting problem drinking. RESULTS: The study consisted of 75 problem and 100 non-problem drinkers. Using traditional CP, the TWEAK and T-ACE tools both performed similarly at identifying potential at-risk women (positive predictive value = 0.54), with very high sensitivity rates (100-99% and 100-93%, respectively) but poor specificity rates (36-43% and 19-34%, respectively). Upon comparison, there was no statistical difference in the effectiveness for one test performing better than next using either CP of 2 (P = 0.66) or CP of 3 (P = 0.38). CONCLUSION: Despite the lack of difference in performance, improved specificity associated with TWEAK suggests that it may be better suited to screen at-risk populations seeking advice from a helpline.
Authors:
M Sarkar; T Einarson; G Koren
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article     Date:  2010-05-23
Journal Detail:
Title:  Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire)     Volume:  45     ISSN:  1464-3502     ISO Abbreviation:  Alcohol Alcohol.     Publication Date:    2010 Jul-Aug
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-06-23     Completed Date:  2010-10-04     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8310684     Medline TA:  Alcohol Alcohol     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  356-60     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Fetal Toxicology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. tsarkar@yahoo.com
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Alcoholism / complications,  diagnosis*
Cohort Studies
Female
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications / diagnosis*
Questionnaires*
Sensitivity and Specificity

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Hydration Status and the Diuretic Action of a Small Dose of Alcohol.
Next Document:  Specific serum protein biomarkers of rheumatoid arthritis detected by MALDI-TOF-MS combined with mag...