title: [High risk alcohol consumption in a sample of patients of the Lausanne University Medical Polyclinic].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study indicates the prevalence, the characteristics, and the screening methods of patients with at risk alcohol drinking at the University Medical Clinic of Lausanne.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results reported demonstrate that one patient out of six is a drinker at risk without criteria for alcohol-dependance. The questionnaire AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) with a cut-off of five points seems to be the best screening test for at risk alcohol consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of at risk drinking in this study, combined with scientific evidence of the efficiency of brief interventions in changing drinking habits, emphasises the importance of alcohol screening for all patients attending outpatient medical settings.
authors.affiliation: Policlinique médicale universitaire, Lausanne.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Landry
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Decrey
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yersin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pécoud
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Daeppen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012306:Risk; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013557:Switzerland