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Drinking patterns among medical in-patients with reference to MAST categories: a comparative study
T Horn1, F Paccaud, M Niquille
1Institut Universitaire de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland.
Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire)
|July 1, 1992
Summary
The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) effectively identified distinct alcohol consumption patterns in a French-speaking population, highlighting its cross-cultural utility. MAST-positive individuals showed unique drinking habits compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Cross-cultural Psychiatry
- Alcohol Use Disorders
Background:
- Understanding diverse drinking patterns is crucial for effective alcoholism screening.
- The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) is a widely used tool, but its applicability in non-English speaking, wine-drinking cultures requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the drinking patterns and alcohol consumption of patients screened by the MAST in a French-speaking, wine-drinking country.
- To evaluate the utility of the MAST in identifying culturally specific, yet potentially problematic, alcohol consumption behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A structured interview was administered to 103 MAST-positive and 103 MAST-negative patients (aged 20-75) admitted to a general hospital.
- Patients were matched for age and sex.
- Drinking patterns, consumption levels, and MAST status were analyzed.
Main Results:
- MAST-positive patients reported more frequent abstinence but also tended to drink alone more often than MAST-negative controls.
- Significantly higher weekly alcohol consumption was observed in MAST-positive patients (cut-offs: 250g/week for men, 270g/week for women).
- Regular drinking was common in both groups, but MAST identified culturally distinct patterns.
Conclusions:
- The MAST is a useful screening tool in French-speaking, wine-drinking populations, identifying patients with abnormal drinking patterns.
- Findings support the transcultural relevance of alcoholism screening tests and the concept of alcohol dependence syndrome.
- Culturally specific drinking behaviors identified by MAST share similarities with alcoholism in other cultures.