Prevalence of alcohol problems among pediatric residents.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the prevalence of alcohol-related problems among pediatric trainees.


METHODS
An alcoholism screening test was administered anonymously to participants at a mandatory substance abuse education and prevention program.


METHODS
A large urban pediatric residency training program.


METHODS
One hundred fifteen pediatric residents attended the program during 3 consecutive years (1996-1998). Eighty-five (74%) screening tests were returned and 81 (70%) were analyzed


METHODS
The 25-item Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). Differential MAST cutpoints have been established to "suggest" or "indicate" a lifetime diagnosis of alcoholism.


RESULTS
Twelve residents (15%) had scores suggestive and 6 (7%) indicative of alcoholism. Twenty-eight (35%) admitted to having alcohol-associated amnesia (blackouts), 13 (16%) to "feeling bad" about their drinking, 9 (11%) to drinking before noon, 6 (7%) to getting into fights when drunk, and 2 (2%) to alcohol-related marital problems. However, only 1 (1%) had gone to anyone for help and none admitted to alcohol-related problems at work.


CONCLUSIONS
These screening data suggest that alcohol abuse and related problems exist among pediatric trainees at troubling rates. While more than one third of the trainees had experienced a serious consequence from heavy drinking, only 1 had gone for help and problems were not apparent at work. Greater emphasis should be placed on alcohol prevention and early intervention programs as a routine part of pediatric training.
Knight
J R
JR
Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass 02115, USA. knightvj@a1.tch.harvard.edu
Palacios
J N
JN
Shannon
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D015995:Prevalence