Comparison of Timeline Follow-Back and Averaging Methods for Quantifying Alcohol Consumption in Treatment Research

Abstract

There is as yet no consensus regarding how best to quantify alcohol consumption as an outcome measure in treatment research. Two commonly used methods were compared: the timeline follow-back procedure which reconstructs daily drinking via a calendar, and the grid averaging method employed in the Drinker Profile system. A sample of outpatients being treated for alcoholism was interviewed using both approaches. Similar, though not identical, consumption patterns were obtained with each measure accounting for approximately half of the variance in the other. The relative advantages of these two assessment approaches are considered.

Comparison of Noninvasive Markers of Fibrosis in Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

“…In subjects with a positive anti-nuclear antibody test, the presence of piecemeal necrosis or other histologic features of autoimmune hepatitis as well as hypergammaglobulinemia were considered to be exclusionary criteria. Alcohol use was assessed both by the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) and lifetime alcohol consumption (Alcohol time-line follow back) 25–27. The nonalcoholic nature of the disease was established by an alcohol consumption level of < 20 gm/day for women and < 30 gm/day for men over at least 5 years prior to entry in to the database.…”

Determinants of Blood Brain‐Derived Neurotrophic Factor Blood Levels in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder

“…A 6‐month follow‐up was performed within the framework of the standard care program after alcohol detoxification, during a medical or a paramedical interview. The mean alcohol consumption since the previous follow‐up was recorded to determine the mean days of abstinence (maximum 180 days between the 2 visits), based on the results of the alcohol timeline followback (Cervantes et al., ; Grant et al., ), or the participant's declarations. Subjects were considered to be abstinent if they declared no alcohol consumption.…”

Postdetoxification Factors Predicting Alcohol‐Related Emergency Room Visits 12 to 24 Months After Discharge: Results from a Prospective Study of Patients with Alcohol Dependence

“…Alcohol consumption was estimated using the alcohol timeline follow‐back. During this validated procedure, the interviewer worked with the participant to review each of the past 28 days to assess how many standard alcohol drinks were consumed (Cervantes et al., ). In this study, the baseline level of alcohol consumption was estimated using the number of excessive drinking days over the last month, defined as exceeding 6 units per day for men and 4 units per day for women.…”