Outcome of Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment for Inpatients, Pho Si Suwan Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the outcome of alcohol withdrawal treatment for inpatients in Pho Si Suwan Hospital. 

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on the group of alcohol withdrawal patients between January 1, 2020, to June 31, 2023. Follow-up was done using the Alcohol Withdrawal Scale (AWS) and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) evaluation form. The population study of 2 sample groups included the early developing period, which was 16 in-patients admitted from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022, and the post-developing period which was 43 in-patients admitted from January 1, 2023, to June 31, 2023. Data analysis has been carried out using frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Student’s t-test and Pearson’s chi-squared test. 

Results: 94.92 % of all 59 alcoholic patients were males; most of the patients in this group 62.71% were mainly diagnosed with alcohol dependence. The average length of stay before discharge with alcohol withdrawal was 5.25 (±2.30 days). After the treatment guideline implementation, the average length of severe withdrawal symptoms in the post-developing group had significantly decreased (p-value=0.004), and the recovery of withdrawal symptoms in 5 days had statistically increased (p-value=0.001). Patients who could not stop drinking in three months were significantly decreased (p-value=0.010). 

Conclusion: The existence of treatment guidelines for alcohol withdrawal for inpatients encouraged the patients themselves to be safe and to recover. Moreover, the length of severe withdrawal symptoms could be reduced, and the multi-disciplinary staff responsible for caregivers could pursue the unique practical treatment guideline.