Problem drinking in emergency department patients: the scope for early intervention.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of previously undiagnosed problem drinking and thereby to assess the suitability of the emergency department for early intervention.


METHODS
Three hundred and fifty ambulatory care patients were assessed by means of a structured interview schedule, physical examination and blood tests. Alcohol intake and presence of alcohol-related problems were recorded, along with history of past advice on drinking and self-perception of an alcohol problem.


METHODS
The ambulatory care section of the emergency department of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney.


METHODS
Three hundred and fifty subjects, aged between 18 and 55 years, were sequentially selected over an 18-month period.


RESULTS
Forty-one per cent of subjects (95% confidence interval, 36%-46%), 50% of men and 26% of women, were classified as problem drinkers on the basis of hazardous or harmful levels of alcohol consumption, frequent drinking to intoxication, evidence of dependence, or experience of alcohol-related problems. Of these, 63% had not previously received advice on drinking from a health professional and only 28% perceived they had a problem. Of particular note was that 24% of men and 4% of women were drinking 12 or more drinks (120 g of alcohol or more) in a single session on a weekly or more frequent basis.


CONCLUSIONS
Many of the problem drinkers attending the emergency department have not previously received advice about their drinking from a health professional. The emergency department therefore offers considerable potential as a site for early detection and intervention in patients with hazardous and harmful alcohol use and related disorders.
Conigrave
K M
KM
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW.
Burns
F H
FH
Reznik
R B
RB
Saunders
J B
JB
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives