title: Hazardous alcohol-drinking problems among a Chinese hospital patient population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to explore: (1) the prevalence and predictors for hazardous alcohol-drinking problems; and (2) previous assessments and interventions for alcohol-drinking problems in hospitalized Chinese patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Alcohol is legally accessible and widely used in Taiwan, but few studies have addressed alcohol-drinking problems in hospital settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional design was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-report data were collected in 2009 from 484 patients at five randomly selected general teaching hospitals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of hazardous alcohol-drinking problems was 19·2%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that predictors for hazardous drinking problems were being male, smoking, and chewing betel quid. Only 29·1% of participants had been assessed for drinking problems in the past year. Only 38·7% of participants with drinking problems had received a drinking intervention in the past year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that alcohol problems in Taiwanese general teaching hospitals are insufficiently assessed and targeted with interventions. Targeting high-risk groups in general teaching hospitals is important to prevent patients' drinking problems.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. yftsai@mail.cgu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Yun-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yea-Pyng
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Mei-Chu
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chih-Erh
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Ching-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology