This page explains the content and coding for the alcohol questionnaire.
Alcohol questionnaire
To learn more about questionnaires, see the what are questionnaires help page or the how to send a questionnaire guide.
On this page:
Questionnaire content
Text message
Dear <patient first name>,
<Practice name> would like to ask a few questions about how much alcohol you drink.
Your answers will help us give you advice and let you know when to get help.
It should take about 2 minutes, and your answers are private.
Select the link to get started <link>
Introduction screen
Dear <patient first name>,
<Practice name> would like to ask a few questions about how much alcohol you drink.
Your answers will help us give you advice and let you know when to get help.
It should take about 2 minutes, and your answers are private.
Thank you,
<Practice Name>
Questions and answers
1. Do you drink alcohol?
-
Yes (go to question 2)
-
No (go to Outcome)
2. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?
-
Never (0 points)
-
Monthly or less (1 point)
-
2 to 4 times a month (2 points)
-
2 to 3 times a week (3 points)
-
4 or more times a week (4 points)
3. When you’re drinking, how many units of alcohol do you drink on a typical day?
1 pint of beer is approximately two units, and one small glass of wine is 1 unit.
-
1 or 2 units (0 points)
-
3 or 4 units (1 point)
-
5 or 6 units (2 points)
-
7 to 9 units (3 points)
-
10 or more units (4 points)
4. What is your biological sex?
This is written on your birth certificate.
We ask this because the NHS uses biological sex as part of the calculations for how much is safe to drink.
-
Male (go to question 5)
-
Female (go to question 6)
5. In the last year, how often did you drink at least 8 units in one session?
1 pint of beer is approximately two units, and one small glass of wine is 1 unit.
-
Never (0 points)
-
Less than monthly (1 point)
-
Monthly (2 points)
-
Weekly (3 points)
-
Daily or almost daily (4 points)
Add up points from questions 2, 3 and 5.
If total = 4 or less go to Outcome.
If total = 5 or more, go to question 7
6. In the last year, how often did you drink at least 6 units in one session?
1 pint of beer is approximately two units, and one small glass of wine is 1 unit.
- Never (0 points)
- Less than monthly (1 point)
- Monthly (2 points)
- Weekly (3 points)
- Daily or almost daily (4 points)
Add up points from questions 2, 3 and 6.
If total = 4 or less go to Outcome.
If total = 5 or more, go to question 7
7. In the last year, how often have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?
- Never (0 points)
- Less than monthly (1 point)
- Monthly (2 points)
- Weekly (3 points)
- Daily or almost daily (4 points)
8. In the last year, how often have you failed to do what was normally expected from you because of your drinking?
- Never (0 points)
- Less than monthly (1 point)
- Monthly (2 points)
- Weekly (3 points)
- Daily or almost daily (4 points)
9. In the last year, how often have you needed an alcoholic drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?
- Never (0 points)
- Less than monthly (1 point)
- Monthly (2 points)
- Weekly (3 points)
- Daily or almost daily (4 points)
10. In the last year, how often have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?
- Never (0 points)
- Less than monthly (1 point)
- Monthly (2 points)
- Weekly (3 points)
- Daily or almost daily (4 points)
11. In the last year, how often have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking?
- Never (0 points)
- Less than monthly (1 point)
- Monthly (2 points)
- Weekly (3 points)
- Daily or almost daily (4 points)
12. Have you or somebody else been injured as a result of your drinking?
-
No (0 points)
-
Yes, but not in the last year (2 points)
- Yes, in the last year (4 points)
13. Has a relative or friend, doctor or other health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested that you cut down?
-
No (0 points)
-
Yes, but not in the last year (2 points)
- Yes, in the last year (4 points)
Results
Outcome
We've sent your answers to your GP
They’ll take a look, and be in touch if they need to talk to you.
If you’re worried about how much alcohol you’re drinking, please contact your GP or find out more from NHS alcohol support.
Thank you.
MJOG inbox
[Inbox]
[Inbox subject line]
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - AUDIT/AUDIT-C (version 1)
[Inbox body copy]
Questionnaire: AUDIT/AUDIT-C (version 1)
AUDIT questions shown to patients scoring 5 or more on AUDIT-C questionnaire
AUDIT-C score: 0-12
[OR]
AUDIT score: N/A, 0-40
Coding
[When SMS is sent]
Assessment using alcohol use disorders identification test (procedure)
SCTID: 450760003
Read: XUlMu
[When questionnaire is completed]
AUDIT-C Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption Score (observable entity)
SCTID: 763256006
Read: XV1qU [free text AUDIT-C score]
OR
AUDIT Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Score (observable entity)
SCTID: 443280005
Read: XUjOc [free text AUDIT score]
[ENDS]
Appendix
A technical limitation means we cannot yet code numerical values directly into S1. We are working to fix this issue. While we do this, we have configured MJOG to code to the record that the relevant information has been collected, and free text the score or value alongside. This issue is not present in EMIS.
How to give feedback
As always, we’d love to hear your feedback about our questionnaires.
To request a new questionnaire or suggest changes, please fill in our request form.