BOSTON, Mar 12, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- U.S. researchers say that physicians
can ask one single question of patients to identify unhealthy alcohol use.
Researchers at Boston Medical Center said that a single-screening question
recommended by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism accurately
identifies unhealthy alcohol use in primary care patients.
The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends physicians
asks, "How many times in the past year have you had five or more drinks in a
day?" for men and for women, "How many times in the past year have you had four
or more drinks in a day?"
Of the 286 study participants reviewed, unhealthy alcohol use was reported by 31
percent of participants. Six percent consumed risky amounts but did not have
alcohol-related problems or a disorder, 13 percent consumed risky amounts and
had problems but no current disorder and 12 percent had a current alcohol use
disorder.
The study, published in the the Journal of General Internal Medicine, found the
single-question screen was 81.8 percent sensitive for the detection of unhealthy
alcohol use.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International