The purpose of this report was to determine the validity of self-reported alcohol use for the hours immediately prior to injury in patients hospitalised for trauma following an alcohol-related motor vehicle accident. Blood samples were obtained from patients admitted to 2 Trauma Centres in Ohio, USA, with injuries following an accident. When the subject was no longer intoxicated, self-reported alcohol consumption on the day of injury was obtained by the Timeline Followback method. Estimated blood alcohol concentration was determined and compared with the actual sample. The self-report was found to be a good reflection of general patterns of drinking although subjects tended to under-report total alcohol ingestion with a minority denying alcohol ingestion altogether.
Samenvatting