Effects of health care cost-containment programs on patterns of care and readmissions among children and adolescents.

Objectives: This study examined the effects of a utilization management program on patterns of medical care among children and adolescents.

Methods: From 1989 through 1993, the program conducted 8568 reviews of pediatric patients, ranging in age from birth to 18 years. The program used preadmission and concurrent review procedures to review and certify patients' need for care.

Medical risks for women who drink alcohol.

Objective: To summarize for clinicians recent epidemiologic evidence regarding medical risks of alcohol use for women.

Methods: MEDLINE and PsychINFO, 1990 through 1996, were searched using key words "women" or "woman," and "alcohol." MEDLINE was also searched for other specific topics and authors from 1980 through 1996.

Alcohol screening questionnaires in women: a critical review.

Objective: To describe the performance of alcohol screening questionnaires in female patients.

Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE from 1966 to July 1997 for alcoholism or alcohol-drinking and for CAGE, AUDIT, BMAST, TWEAK, T-ACE, MAST, SMAST, or SAAST; Citations Indexes for newer screening questionnaires and those without acronyms; and MEDLINE from 1996 to July 1997 for alcoholism or alcohol-drinking and screening.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: Reviewed studies presented data for women comparing brief alcohol screening questionnaires with valid criterion standards for heavy drinking (> or =2 drinks per day) or alcohol abuse or dependence in US general clinical populations.