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Alcohol Use Risk Levels Among Older Patients Screened in Emergency Departments in Southern California
Susan I. Woodruff, PhD1*,
John D. Clapp, PhD1,
Daniela Sisneros, MSW2,
Elizabeth Clapp, MPH2,
Cameron McCabe, BA2,
and
Raymond DiCiccio, MSW3
1 San Diego State University
2 San Diego State University Research Foundation
3 CASBIRT
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: swoodruff{at}projects.sdsu.edu.
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Abstract |
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More information is needed about the spectrum of alcohol use among older individuals, and correlates of problem drinking. This study described the alcohol use risk levels of a large convenience sample of patients 65 years and older visiting two large California hospital emergency departments (EDs). A personal interview, administered in the ED by a trained health educator, collected sociodemographic information and alcohol use using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test instrument. A total of 476 older patients provided complete interviews. This group equally comprised of men and women. Fifty-four percent were White non-Hispanic, 28% were Hispanic, 11% were African American, and 6% Other/Unknown. About 14% were at risk or above for alcohol misuse. No differences in risk-level distribution were found for young-old (65-74 years of age) and old-old (75+) groups. Higher alcohol risk was associated with male gender and higher income. Results are discussed in terms of intervention approaches for older people.
First published on June 9, 2009, doi:10.1177/0733464809338040
Journal of Applied Gerontology 2009;28:649.
A more recent version of this article appeared on October 1, 2009

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