Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29733341›Full record

SynthesisAge and ageing2019

Drinking in later life: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies exploring older people's perceptions and experiences.

Bethany Kate Bareham, Eileen Kaner, Liam Patrick Spencer, Barbara Hanratty

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Age and ageing, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
36citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

36 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  12. The epidemiology of alcohol involved facial injuries.Oral and maxillofacial surgery · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Bethany Kate BarehamInstitute of Health and Society, Newcastle University The Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Eileen KanerInstitute of Health and Society, Newcastle University The Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Liam Patrick SpencerInstitute of Health and Society, Newcastle University The Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Barbara HanrattyInstitute of Health and Society, Newcastle University The Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: alcohol presents risks to the health of older adults at levels that may have been 'safer' earlier in life. Moderate drinking is associated with some health benefits, and can play a positive role in older people's social lives. To support healthy ageing, we must understand older people's views with regards to their drinking. This study aims to synthesise qualitative evidence exploring the perceptions and experiences of alcohol use by adults aged 50 years and over. Methods: a pre-specified search strategy was applied to Medline, PsychINFO, Scopus, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases from starting dates. Grey literature, relevant journals, references and citations of included articles were searched. Two independent reviewers sifted articles and assessed study quality. Principles of thematic analysis were applied to synthesise the findings from included studies. Results: of 2,056 unique articles identified, 25 articles met inclusion criteria. Four themes explained study findings: routines and rituals of older people's drinking; self-image as a responsible drinker; perceptions of alcohol and the ageing body; and older people's access to alcohol. Differences between gender, countries and social patterns are highlighted. Conclusions: older people perceive themselves as controlled and responsible drinkers. They may not recognise risks associated with alcohol, but appreciate its role in sustaining social and leisure activities important to health and well-being in later life. These are important considerations for intervention development. Drinking is routinised across the life course and may be difficult to change in retirement.

Indexed as

Attitude to HealthAgedAge FactorsAlcohol DrinkingHumansMiddle AgedQualitative Research

Identifiers

PMID29733341
PMCPMC6322501

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.