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Estimating the prevalence of drinking problems among physicians
Friedrich M Wurst1, Hans-Jürgen Rumpf, Gregory E Skipper
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, Christian-Doppler-Hospital, Paracelsus-Medical University, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria.
General Hospital Psychiatry
|July 10, 2013
Summary
Uncorrected screening for physician alcohol problems using the AUDIT or AUDIT-C significantly overestimates prevalence. Corrected estimates reveal lower rates, emphasizing the need for accurate diagnostic methods in physician health assessments.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Public health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Physician alcohol use is commonly assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) or its shorter version, AUDIT-C.
- Prevalence estimates from these screening tools depend on test accuracy and chosen cutoff values.
Purpose of the Study:
- To derive more precise prevalence estimates of alcohol problems in physicians.
- To correct for false-positive and false-negative results in alcohol use screening among physicians.
Main Methods:
- A survey using the AUDIT was distributed to 2484 physicians in Salzburg, Austria, with 456 participants.
- A published correction formula, incorporating general population data and test sensitivity/specificity, was applied to estimate true prevalence.
Main Results:
- Uncorrected AUDIT-C screening showed 15.7% of females and 37.7% of males positive. Corrected rates were 4.0% (female) and 9.5% (male).
- Uncorrected full AUDIT screening showed 19.6% of females and 48% of males positive. Corrected rates were 6.3% (female) and 15.5% (male).
Conclusions:
- Uncorrected screening results for physician drinking problems can markedly overestimate their actual prevalence.
- Accurate prevalence estimation requires correcting for screening test inaccuracies.
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