title: The impact of alcohol-related presentations on a New Zealand hospital emergency department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of alcohol-related presentations on the Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department (ED).
  
  
  METHODS
  Over 42 8-hour shifts (2 weeks) between 15 November 2013 and 9 December 2013, patients attending the ED with recent alcohol consumption were classified as screen-positive (consumed alcohol in the 4 hours prior to presentation) or not. A subset of screen-positive patients was classified as impact-positive (alcohol consumption clearly contributed to the reason for presenting). Data were analysed in relation to days/shifts for gender, age, disruptive behaviour, medical reasons for presenting, and completeness of ED records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 3619 patients screened in the study, 268 (7.4%) and 182 (5%) were screen-positive and impact-positive, respectively. Most patients attended the ED on the weekends (58%: 105/182), particularly on Saturday night (31%; 56/182). More males (118) than females (64) were impact-positive. Of the impact-positive males, most were 16-25 years old (37%; 44/118) or 41-61 years old (32%; 38/118), attended the ED on weekend night shifts (24%; 28/118), and sought treatment for non- interpersonal trauma (38%; 45/118) or interpersonal trauma due to violence (17%; 20/118). Of the female impact-positive patients, most were 16-25 years old (41%; 26/64) or 41-60 years old (33%; 21/64), and presented for deliberate self-harm (36%; 23/64) or non-interpersonal trauma (27%; 17/64). Of the 182 impact-positive patients, 86% (156) were recorded in the ED computer system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol-related presentations had a significant impact on the ED, particularly on weekends. Teenagers, young adults and middle-aged adults contributed to the alcohol-related patient impact on weekends. Male patients were a significant burden on Saturday evening and night shifts.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Manidipa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: University of Otago Christchurch, Emergency Department, Christchurch Hospital, Private Bag 4710, Christchurch, New Zealand. Michael.ardagh@cdhb.health.nz.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ardagh
authors.forename: Joanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Deely
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bartholomew
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spearing
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Than
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006753:Hospital Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014754:Violence / Q000639:trends; D055815:Young Adult