Alcohol Withdrawal Assessment Tool (AWAT) Reliability and Validity: Implications for Nurses Caring for Inpatients With Mental Health Disorders.

Background: Alcohol use affects 14.5 million Americans and high prevalence of use and potential for withdrawal among hospitalized patients presents a challenge for health care professionals to anticipate and manage effectively. Due to the acuity and fast-paced nature of the hospital environment, nurses need assessment tools that can be readily completed and drive efficient protocol-based treatment.