[Relationship between ethanol patch test and problem drinkers among dental students].
In 2000 and 2001, we carried out a drinking habit survey and the Ethanol Patch Test on 232 fourth-year dental students (128 males, 104 females). The results were statistically analyzed. For the survey, the students were asked to fill out, anonymously, the forms of the Tokyo-University ALDH2-Phenotype Screening Test (TAST), the Kurihama Alcoholism Screening Test (KAST), and the Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale (AAIS). The results of the subsequent Ethanol Patch test were evaluated by the students themselves. The Patch test demonstrated that 44.5% of males and 49.0% of females were positive to the test or ALDH2 deficient, the rest having the marker substance. According to the TAST results, ALDH2-deficient or TAST-positive (alcohol-intolerant) subjects accounted for 48.4% of males and 51.9% of females, the rest being ALDH2-present or TAST-negative students. Among the Patch test-positive group, the ratio of problem drinkers according to the KAST was 8.8% in males and 2.0% in females. The corresponding figures for the test-negatives group were; 22.5% in males; 7.5% in females, being higher than those for the test-positive group. Among the test-positive group, the ratio of problem drinkers scoring at least 42 points on the AAIS stood at 19.3% in males, 7.8% in females and among the test-negative group, the corresponding figures were; 21.1% in males; 13.2% in females, the difference from those for the other group being relatively small. The results of the Ethanol Patch test were related to those of the TAST and KAST, but not to the AAIS. The correlation between the Patch test and KAST indicates that the test-negatives are prone to become alcohol-dependant. Though the results of the Patch test and those of the AAIS were not related, the findings show that some alcohol-intolerant university students are drinking excessively.
Department of Dental Public Health, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, 870-1 Sakaecho-Nishi 2, Matsudo-city, Chiba 271-8587, Japan.
Hisako
H
Watanabe
Ikuo
I
Nasu
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*
D000431:Ethanol