Citation

Miller PM, Ravenel MC, Shealy AE, Thomas S. J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 2006; 137(12): 1692-1698.

Affiliation

Medical University of South Carolina, Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. millerpm@musc.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Dental Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17138714

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Because heavy drinking is a risk factor for oral cancer, dentists should screen patients for alcohol use. The authors investigated heavy drinking in dental patients and patients' attitudes about alcohol screening. METHODS: A convenience sample of 408 patients attending an emergency walk-in dental clinic served as subjects. Patients completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-C (AUDIT-C), a three-item alcohol screening test, and an opinion survey regarding attitudes about the acceptability of alcohol screening and counseling by dentists. RESULTS: One in four patients had positive screening results for heavy alcohol use. The majority of subjects (> 75 percent) were in support of dentists' inquiries and advice about alcohol use. Age, sex and drinking status were not predictive of patients' opinions about alcohol screening. CONCLUSIONS: One hundred three of the dental patients exhibited evidence of hazardous alcohol consumption, a risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer. The majority of patients reported that they would readily accept alcohol screening and alcohol counseling by dentists. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Because studies have shown that some dentists hesitate to screen for alcohol use because of a belief that screening is unacceptable to patients, these results may encourage a change in practice.

Language: en