Resources for the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment based
Proactive and Personalised Primary Care of the Elderly
FAST
Focused Alcohol Screening Tool
Assessment for hazardous alcohol consumption
Purpose : Assessment for hazardous alcohol consumption
Admin time : 1-3 min
User Friendly : High
Administered by : GP or nurse, or self
It is important that distractions are kept to a minimum and the patient is not in pain, distressed or intoxicated.
Even if self-completed, the practitioner should be present to answer questions and ensure all of the questions are answered
Content : 4 Questions pertaining to alcohol use
Author : Hodgson R, 2002 access
Copyright : © 2002, Oxford University Press
Free access
FAST
FAST - manual
FAST - online
FAST
Advantages:
-
free to use
-
quick
-
relatively non-confrontational
Disadvantages:
-
the degree of alcohol usage within different population groups and other clinical and/or community settings will likely differ, and may thus influence sensitivity and specificity.
Accuracy : (Manual for the FAST Screening Test, 2002) access
Sensitivity (94% in men and 86% in women) and specificity (86% in men and 90% in women)
The first question on its own has been reported to identify 61% of hazardous and non-hazardous drinkers with an accuracy of 95%
This Tool is used in the assessment of Alcohol Problems
Back To : Alcohol Problems
Back To : Thorny Issues
This is one of several topics presented in the Thorny Issues sector of this toolkit