Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T18:24:59.576Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Changes in alcohol history taking by psychiatric junior doctors: an audit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Simon J Taylor
Simon J Taylor*
Affiliation:
Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S44 5BL, England
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective: In recent years a number of articles have highlighted deficiencies in drinking histories taken by junior doctors. This study examines whether standards have improved as a result. It also examines for the first time: 1. the quality of drinking histories taken from patients following parasuicide; and 2. the quality of illicit drug usage histories.

Method: An audit of case notes was undertaken of 114 patients admitted to a district hospital's acute psychiatric wards or assessed following overdose. Two periods were considered; one preceding many of the articles, and the second four years later.

Results: There was an overall improvement from 58% of histories in 1988 having no mention of alcohol usage to 25% in 1992. (X2MH=10.57, p<0.01). There was, however, insufficient improvement of quantitative histories to reach statistical significance. Histories taken as part of an overdose assessment were not significantly different from those taken for inpatient admission. In 1992, 27% of patients had any illicit drug usage history recorded which represented a statistically significant improvement (X2MH=5.91, p<0.02) compared with four years earlier.

Conclusions: Although improvements have been noted, alcohol and drug histories remain inadequate.

Keywords

AlcoholIllicit drug usageTrainees in psychiatryHistory taking
Type
Audits
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , March 1995 , pp. 37 - 39
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Paton, A. Alcohol and the hospital doctor. Br J Hosp Med 1989; 42: 394–400.Google ScholarPubMed
2.Farrell, MP, David, AS. Do psychiatric registrars take a proper drinking history? BMJ 1988; 296: 395–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Rowland, N, Maynard, A, Beveridge, A, Kennedy, P, Wintergill, W, Stone, W. Doctors have no time for alcohol screening. BMJ 1987; 295: 95–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Mitchell, C. Alcohol histories taken by psychiatric registrars: a comparative study in a non-teaching hospital. Br J Addiction 1989; 84: 438–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Awad, I, Wattis, PJ. Alcohol histories in hospital: does age and sex of the patient make a difference? Br J Addiction 1990; 85: 149–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Jariwalla, AG, Adams, PH, Hore, BD. Alcohol and acute general medical admissions to hospital. Health Trends 1979; 11: 95–7.Google Scholar
7.Bernadt, MW, Murrey, RM. Psychiatric disorder, drinking and alcoholism: what are the the links? Br J Psychiatry 1986; 148: 393–400.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Hawton, K, Catalan, J. Attempted suicide. Oxford University Press: 1987.Google Scholar
9.Chick, J, Lloyd, G, Crombie, E. Counselling problem drinkers on medical wards. BMJ 1985: 290: 965–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Baresford, TP, Blow, RC, Hill, E, Singer, K, Lucey, MR. Comparison of CAGE questionnaire and computer-assisted laboratory profiles in screening for covert alcoholism. The Lancet 1990; 336: 482–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar