TY - JOUR
T1 - Point prevalence of alcoholism in hospitalized patients
T2 - Continuing challenges of detection, assessment, and diagnosis
AU - Schneekloth, Terry D.
AU - Morse, Robert M.
AU - Herrick, Linda M.
AU - Suman, Vera J.
AU - Offord, Kenneth P.
AU - Davis, Leo J.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - • Objective: To measure a 1-day point prevalence of alcohol dependence among hospitalized patients and to assess practices of detection, evaluation, and diagnosis of alcohol problems. • Patients and Methods: On April 27, 1994, a total of 795 adult inpatients at 2 midwestern teaching hospitals were asked to complete a survey that included the Self-administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST). The records of SAAST-positive patients were reviewed to determine the numbers of patients receiving laboratory screening for alcoholism, addiction consultative services, and a discharge diagnosis of alcoholism. • Results: The survey response rate was 84% (667/795). Of the 569 patients who provided SAAST information, 42 (7.4%) had a positive SAAST score and thus were identified as alcohol dependent. Thirteen (31%) of the 42 alcoholic patients received addiction or psychiatric consultative services during their hospitalization. Serum γ-glutamyltransferase was measured in 4 (11%) of the 38 actively drinking alcoholic patients. Three (7%) of 42 alcoholic patients received a discharge diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence. • Conclusions: The alcoholism prevalence rate was lower than those observed in several other US hospitals. Laboratory testing may be underutilized in identifying hospitalized patients who may be addicted to alcohol. Physician use of consultative services and diagnosis of alcohol dependence had not improved from similar observations more than 20 years earlier. These findings may indicate persistent problems in physician detection, assessment, and diagnosis of alcoholism.
AB - • Objective: To measure a 1-day point prevalence of alcohol dependence among hospitalized patients and to assess practices of detection, evaluation, and diagnosis of alcohol problems. • Patients and Methods: On April 27, 1994, a total of 795 adult inpatients at 2 midwestern teaching hospitals were asked to complete a survey that included the Self-administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST). The records of SAAST-positive patients were reviewed to determine the numbers of patients receiving laboratory screening for alcoholism, addiction consultative services, and a discharge diagnosis of alcoholism. • Results: The survey response rate was 84% (667/795). Of the 569 patients who provided SAAST information, 42 (7.4%) had a positive SAAST score and thus were identified as alcohol dependent. Thirteen (31%) of the 42 alcoholic patients received addiction or psychiatric consultative services during their hospitalization. Serum γ-glutamyltransferase was measured in 4 (11%) of the 38 actively drinking alcoholic patients. Three (7%) of 42 alcoholic patients received a discharge diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence. • Conclusions: The alcoholism prevalence rate was lower than those observed in several other US hospitals. Laboratory testing may be underutilized in identifying hospitalized patients who may be addicted to alcohol. Physician use of consultative services and diagnosis of alcohol dependence had not improved from similar observations more than 20 years earlier. These findings may indicate persistent problems in physician detection, assessment, and diagnosis of alcoholism.
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U2 - 10.4065/76.5.460
DO - 10.4065/76.5.460
M3 - Article
C2 - 11357792
AN - SCOPUS:0035025543
VL - 76
SP - 460
EP - 466
JO - Mayo Clinic Proceedings
JF - Mayo Clinic Proceedings
SN - 0025-6196
IS - 5
M1 - 62911
ER -