The RUS-AUDIT Validation Study Protocol: Adapting and validating the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) in the Russian Federation (2021)

2021, v + 42 pages
ISBN 978 92 890 5572 7
This publication is only available online.

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is one of the most successful instruments in screening for problematic alcohol use. However, inconsistent use of different Russian-language translations of the AUDIT has been observed in the Russian Federation and other countries, and none of the existing versions appears to have been formally validated using an established study protocol. This creates problems both in the application of AUDIT and in the interpretation of results, and presents a barrier to the implementation at primary health-care level of a strategy for early detection of potentially harmful alcohol use.

This study protocol describes the steps required to validate the AUDIT in the Russian Federation, documenting pre-studies and providing guidance on translating and adapting the AUDIT for use in Russian. It also outlines study procedures to determine the best AUDIT thresholds for different risk levels and implementing interventions at PHC level in the Russian Federation.

The study protocol can inform validation efforts in other countries, and the study result can be used in other countries with drinking patterns and health-care systems similar to those in the Russian Federation.