Drinking amongst medical patients: levels of risk and models of change

Results are reported of a study in which 547 general hospital medical in-patients were screened, using a computer-administered questionnaire, for alcohol consumption, problems and concerns. Of males, 22.5% were classified as 'risk drinkers', of women 6.5%. Rates of risk were particularly high amongst younger male patients. It was concluded that certain screening questionnaire items were more useful than others in the general hospital context, and that standard questionnaires developed for other populations should not automatically be used in general hospitals. Comparisons with items relating to other health behaviours suggested that the medical profession, the general public and the patients themselves might be relatively insensitive to the risks associated with heavy drinking in comparison to those associated with smoking, weight and lack of exercise. Data from initial screening and from 75% of patients who were asked to repeat the questionnaire six months later, were used to test certain assumptions of a model of change based in part upon that of Prochaska & DiClemente (1986). Results suggested that processes of change were more complex than the model supposed.