To what extent is female alcohol dependence and abuse known in the health care system? The use of multi-source information in a Swedish population survey.
In a multi-purpose two-phase general population survey of female alcoholism/alcohol problems, unknown alcohol dependence and abuse (ADA) was estimated with interviews and by search of medical and National Insurance Office records. Firstly, 3130 subjects received a screening questionnaire and, secondly, a stratified selection of 399 women were interviewed. A total of 56 subjects received a diagnosis of ADA in interview and four due to other information. Lifetime prevalence of ADA was 3.3%. A total of 63.6% of the diagnosed women 45-65 years of age, and 25.9% of the women 25-35 years of age, were known in these records. Corresponding rates for women with alcohol dependence were 71.4% and 30.8%, respectively. Record information reveals a lack of attention to ADA from several physicians.
Spak
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Department of Social Medicine, Vasa Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology