Hazardous Drinking Problems in Family Members of Problem-Drinker Patients in Chinese General Hospitals

Monday, 30 July 2012

Yun-Fang Tsai, PhD, RN
Chang Gung University, School of Nursing, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
Yea-Pyng Lin, RN
School of nursing, Chang-Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
Mei-Chu Tsai, MS
Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
Chih-Erh Weng, BA
Nursing Department, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung, Taiwan, Keelung, Taiwan

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to understand the prevalence and risk factors for hazardous alcohol-drinking problems among family members of Chinese problem-drinker patients.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to understand previous assessments and interventions for alcohol-drinking problems among family members of Chinese problem-drinker patients.

Purpose: To explore (1) the prevalence and risk factors for hazardous alcohol-drinking problems and (2) previous assessments and interventions for alcohol-drinking problems among family members of Chinese problem-drinker patients. 

Methods: Self-report data were collected from 517 family members of problem-drinker patients at five randomly selected general hospitals in Taiwan in 2009. 

Results: Family members’ prevalence of hazardous alcohol-drinking problems was 13.3%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that risk factors for hazardous drinking were male gender, low education level, heart disease, smoking, and chewing betel quid. Only 11.8% of participants had been assessed for drinking problems in the past year. Only 5.2% of participants with drinking problems had received a drinking intervention in the past year. 

Conclusion: Alcohol problems among family members of problem-drinker patients in Taiwanese general hospitals are insufficiently assessed and targeted with interventions. Targeting this high-risk group is important to prevent drinking problems in family members of problem-drinker patients.