Adolescent health briefAdolescent Alcohol Intoxication in the Dutch Hospital Departments of Pediatrics: A 2-Year Comparison Study
Section snippets
Method
Data were collected through the Dutch Pediatric Surveillance System (NSCK), in which 83% of pediatricians in Dutch general hospitals and 92% in academic hospitals participated. Pediatricians fill in monthly questionnaires on about 10 varying predetermined diseases, disorders, or syndromes. Adolescent (0–18 years old) alcohol intoxication (blood alcohol concentration [BAC] >0 grams of alcohol per liter blood) has been included in the NSCK system since 2007. The Ethical Commission of the Faculty
Results
Besides the 13% increase in admitted adolescents, adolescents admitted in both years show a similar proportion of gender (χ2 [2, N = 518] = 1.03, p = .60), educational level (χ2 [9, N = 406] = 5.37, p = .80), school performances (χ2 [3, N = 369] = .09, p = .99), family structure (χ2 [3, N = 471] = .59, p = .90), siblings (χ2 [4, N = 386] = 4.57, p = .33), familiarity with medical or aid agencies (χ2 [7, N = 467] = 11.75, p = .11), alcohol use (χ2 [4, N = 238] = 2.81, p = .59), and other
Discussion
Despite ongoing national health promotion campaigns, in-service compliance campaigns, and local initiatives to enforce alcohol laws, the number of adolescents suffering from alcohol intoxication increased by 13% in 2008 (as compared with that in 2007). However, this raise might also be influenced by an increased attention of the NSCK within the group of participating pediatricians. In both years, other characteristics demonstrate that these adolescents are average youngsters, who, possibly
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