RESUMO
The incidence of chronic alcoholism among the non-medical staff of a hospital was evaluated in an occupational health service context. Three criteria were sought routinely: suspicion by history of excessive alcohol intake, typical findings by physical examination, and suggestive behavioural changes reported by work colleagues. Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase levels and mean corpuscular volume were measured when one of these three criteria existed. The diagnosis of chronic alcoholism was made when two criteria were found or when only one criterion existed but accompanied by laboratory abnormalities. The incidence of chronic alcoholism was 6.2 per cent among male staff and 0.6 among female staff. It appeared to be less than in the population as a whole. The selective and non-systematic use of laboratory investigations and the frequent absence of indication to the occupational health physician of behavioural problems were sources of bias which probably contributed to underestimation of the incidence of chronic alcoholism among employees of the Orleans Regional Hospital Group. Provision of information to all staff is essential in order to explain the behavioural changes associated with chronic alcoholism and the usefulness of reporting employees showing evidence of such changes to the occupational physician. This enables medico-social diagnosis and the early care of those with early chronic alcohol abuse.
