title: Harmful alcohol use among injured adult patients presenting to a Ghanaian emergency department.
abstract: We performed a nested convenience sample survey of harmful alcohol use among injured patients aged 18 years and older treated in the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (Kumasi, Ghana) emergency department (ED). Data from the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, alcohol breath or saliva tests, patient demographics and injury characteristics were collected from an administered survey and medical chart review. A total of 403 subjects were surveyed, and 107 (27%; 95% CI 22 to 31) reported harmful alcohol use. High rates of harmful alcohol use were found among males (35%), acutely alcohol-positive subjects (55%), drivers (32%), pedestrians (35%) and assault victims (43%). A substantial proportion of injured patients reported harmful alcohol use. The data obtained support routine screening of injured patients presenting to Ghanaian EDs for harmful alcohol use.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical School, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana.
authors.forename: Paa Kobina
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Forson
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oduro
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana.
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Djan
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana.
authors.forename: Kwame Ofori
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Adu
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana.
authors.forename: Kwasi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ofori-Anti
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Maio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*