Alcohol use and abuse among medical and surgical in-patients in a general hospital.

Objective: Non-recognition of alcohol problems in medical and surgical patients may have adverse consequences. This may be minimised by having a high index of suspicion and the use of screening instruments.

Patients And Methods: Items from two alcohol abuse screening instruments (CAGE and Patient Health Questionnaire) were administered on medical and surgical in-patients in a general hospital during a one-year period, to determine the prevalence of alcohol use and abuse.