title: Screening for alcoholism by life-style risk assessment in a community hospital.
abstract: In a community hospital, physicians identified with unusually high frequency (90%) the alcoholics they admitted to a medical-surgical service when life-style risk assessment was performed routinely. Identification rates were retrospectively evaluated based on chart documentation; 100 consecutive admissions receiving assessment interviews were compared with 100 consecutive admissions for a period 6 months later. During the screening period, plans addressing alcohol-related problems routinely appeared in the discharge summaries (71%), referral recommendations were frequently made for residential alcoholism treatment (52%), and intentions were stated to follow-up alcohol abuse problems in the office (43%). Decreases in these rates were observed when life-style risk assessment was not performed. Identification was made in 57% of patients; plans were stated concerning alcohol-related problems in 29%; residential referral was recommended in 5%; and office follow-up was arranged for 24%. The risk assessment program was economical and well received by the patients, the physician staff, and the hospital administration. No specialized program for physician education was utilized.
authors.affiliation: Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006744:Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014707:Vermont