TY - JOUR
T1 - Physicians' low detection rates of alcohol dependence or abuse: A matter of methodological shortcomings?
AU - Rumpf, H. J.
AU - Bohlmann, J.
AU - Hill, A.
AU - Hapke, U.
AU - John, U.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by German Ministry of Health grant 326-4914-8/38.
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Previous research may have underestimated physicians' detection rates of alcohol dependence or abuse because case findings have been based on screening questionnaires instead of using in-depth diagnostic criteria and detection rates have been assessed by analyzing patient records instead of directly interviewing the physician. To test this hypothesis, consecutive patients of a general hospital (N=436) and of 12 randomly selected general practices (N=929) were examined. A two-step diagnostic procedure included screening questionnaires and a diagnostic interview (SCAN). The analysis compares detection rates based on methods used in previous studies to data using more precise methods. Physicians' detection rates ranged from 37.0% to 88.9% in the general hospital and from 11.1% to 74.7% in general practices depending on methods used. The physicians' detection rates could be improved by 10% (general hospital) and 20% (general practice) through the additional use of a screening questionnaire. Of those patients assessed by the physicians as problem drinkers in the general hospital, 13.9% were referred to an addiction consultation-liaison service. Data reveal that physicians' abilities to detect problem drinkers have been underestimated. Routine screening procedures could play a major role in improving detection rates and reminding the physician to intervene.
AB - Previous research may have underestimated physicians' detection rates of alcohol dependence or abuse because case findings have been based on screening questionnaires instead of using in-depth diagnostic criteria and detection rates have been assessed by analyzing patient records instead of directly interviewing the physician. To test this hypothesis, consecutive patients of a general hospital (N=436) and of 12 randomly selected general practices (N=929) were examined. A two-step diagnostic procedure included screening questionnaires and a diagnostic interview (SCAN). The analysis compares detection rates based on methods used in previous studies to data using more precise methods. Physicians' detection rates ranged from 37.0% to 88.9% in the general hospital and from 11.1% to 74.7% in general practices depending on methods used. The physicians' detection rates could be improved by 10% (general hospital) and 20% (general practice) through the additional use of a screening questionnaire. Of those patients assessed by the physicians as problem drinkers in the general hospital, 13.9% were referred to an addiction consultation-liaison service. Data reveal that physicians' abilities to detect problem drinkers have been underestimated. Routine screening procedures could play a major role in improving detection rates and reminding the physician to intervene.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034950085&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0163-8343(01)00134-7
DO - 10.1016/S0163-8343(01)00134-7
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 11427245
AN - SCOPUS:0034950085
SN - 0163-8343
VL - 23
SP - 133
EP - 137
JO - General Hospital Psychiatry
JF - General Hospital Psychiatry
IS - 3
ER -