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AuthorMajid Alabdulla
AuthorShuja Reagu
AuthorNahid M Elhassan
AuthorDhanya Shinith
AuthorSaba T Shiekh
AuthorMaha O Abbas
AuthorNirvana Swamy Kudlur Chandrappa
Available date2024-03-04T03:41:15Z
Publication Date2021
Publication NameBMJ Open
ResourceScopus
ISSN20446055
URIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055181
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/52590
AbstractObjectives This study attempts the first in a series of investigations into the misuse of alcohol and substances in Qatar. This study explores the emergency presentations of alcohol and substance abuse to all the state funded emergency departments (EDs) in the country which serve around 90% of the population over a 22-month period. Due to legal penalties for alcohol and substance use, and lack of subsidised community-based facilities, ED presentations are a good starting point to explore this burden. Design and participants A retrospective population-based, cross-sectional study, analysing electronic patient records of all state funded EDs spanning a period of 22 months, from 1 January 2019 to 31 October 2020 was carried out. The study included all eligible individuals aged 18 or over. Primary reason/diagnosis for presentation containing any of the alcohol or substance use key words were included in the study using composite data capture forms by trained clinicians. Results An overwhelming majority (95.5%) of the total 1495 cases presenting to the EDs with substance abuse were using alcohol. Only 2.1% of the cases were females. Those of Asian (non-Arab) constituted 70% of this group. Qatari citizens presented with highest proportion of substance abuse other than alcohol (23%). Overall, 2.26% of all presentations to the EDs were related to alcohol and substance abuse and this amounted to 3 ED visits per 10 000 of population per year. 56.6% of the cases presented over the weekend. Less than 1% were referred to psychiatry and no other meaningful rehabilitative interventions were offered to others. Conclusion As Qatar moves towards establishing community-based rehabilitative resources for alcohol and substances abuse, the findings from this study will help in shaping these developments. These can include ED-based routine screening for alcohol abuse and referral to rehabilitation services without fear of legal penalties.
Languageen
PublisherBMJ Publishing Group
Subjectaccident & emergency medicine
public health
substance misuse
TitleEmergency department presentations of alcohol and other substance misuse: First cross-sectional national study in Qatar
TypeArticle
Issue Number10
Volume Number11
dc.accessType Open Access


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