The Validity of the Quantity of Alcohol Drinking Questionnaire as a Method to Screen Alcohol Drinkers in the Emergency Department: Comparison with the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT)

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Many the trauma patients in the emergency department (ED) are associated with drinking alcohol. These patients' alcohol behavior is changed by screening and intervention. Although there are several kinds of screening tools, they are difficult to apply in the ED. The aim of this study to determine whether a brief questionnaire about the quantity of drinking can screen hazardous drinkers in the ED. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in a local emergency medical center from September 2008 to December 2008. We included the trauma patients who were 18 years or older and who were injured less than 6 hours before being admitted to the ED. We compared the results of AUDIT with a brief questionnaire about the quantity of drinking. We were analyzed the difference between patients who were AUDIT positive and heavy drinkers (group 1) and the patients who were AUDIT positive, but they were non heavy drinkers (group 2). RESULTS: A total 516 patients agreed to take the questionnaire. There were 91 AUDIT positive patients and 104 heavy drinkers. There were 71 patients (81.3%) in group 1. The group 2 included 17 patients, including 1 alcohol abusing patient and 2 alcohol dependent patients. Group 1 and group 2 had statistically significant differences for the quantity of drinking and the AUDIT score. CONCLUSION: We could screen hazardous drinkers using the brief questionnaire about the quantity and frequency of drinking compared with the AUDIT in a crowded ED. If we perform brief motivational intervention for these heavy drinkers, it will be effective and reduce the alcohol related problems.