Correspondence between alcohol use measured by a wrist-worn alcohol biosensor and self-report via ecological momentary assessment over a 2-week period.
Veronica L Richards, Nancy P Barnett, Robert L Cook, Robert F Leeman, Timothy Souza, Stuart Case, Cindy Prins, Christa Cook, Yan Wang
Author Information
Veronica L Richards: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Profession and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. ORCID
Nancy P Barnett: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. ORCID
Robert L Cook: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Profession and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Robert F Leeman: Department of Health Education and Behavior, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. ORCID
Timothy Souza: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Stuart Case: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Profession and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Cindy Prins: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Profession and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Christa Cook: College of Nursing, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA.
Yan Wang: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Profession and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. ORCID
BACKGROUND: Transdermal alcohol biosensors measure alcohol use continuously, passively, and non-invasively. There is little field research on the Skyn biosensor, a new-generation, wrist-worn transdermal alcohol biosensor, and little evaluation of its sensitivity and specificity and the day-level correspondence between transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) and number of self-reported drinks. METHODS: Participants (N = 36; 61% male, M = 34.3) wore the Skyn biosensor and completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys about their alcohol use over 2���weeks. A total of 497���days of biosensor and EMA data were collected. Skyn-measured drinking episodes were defined by TAC���>���5�����g/L. Skyn data were compared to self-reported drinking to calculate sensitivity and specificity (for drinking day vs. nondrinking day). Generalized estimating equations models were used to evaluate the correspondence between TAC features (peak TAC and TAC-area under the curve (AUC)) and number of drinks. Individual-level factors (sex, age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, human immunodeficiency virus status, and hazardous drinking) were examined to explore associations with TAC controlling for number of drinks. RESULTS: Using a minimum TAC threshold of 5�����g/L plus coder review, the biosensor had sensitivity of 54.7% and specificity of 94.6% for distinguishing drinking from nondrinking days. Without coder review, the sensitivity was 78.1% and the specificity was 55.2%. Peak TAC (�� = 0.92, p���<���0.0001) and TAC-AUC (�� = 1.60, p���<���0.0001) were significantly associated with number of drinks. Females had significantly higher TAC levels than males for the same number of drinks. CONCLUSIONS: Skyn-derived TAC can be used to measure alcohol use under naturalistic drinking conditions, additional research is needed to accurately identify drinking episodes based on Skyn TAC readings.
