1-of-6 U.S.surgeons abuse alcohol

More than 15 percent of U.S. surgeons in an anonymous survey self-reported disorders consistent with alcohol abuse or dependence, researchers said. Dr. Michael R. Oreskovich of the American College of Surgeons in Chicago and the University of Washington, Seattle, and colleagues collected more than 7,000 surveys from more than 25,000 members of the American College of Surgeons. The study, published in the Archives of Surgery, found 15.4 percent had a score on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test that was consistent with alcohol abuse or dependence. The scoring for alcohol abuse or dependence was 13.9 percent for male surgeons and 25.6 percent for female surgeons. The study found alcohol abuse or dependence more likely in surgeons who were younger, dissatisfied with a spouse or partner relationship, and did not have children. Surgeons who were burned out and depressed were more likely to have alcohol abuse and dependence issues, the researchers found. Surgeons with alcohol abuse or dependence accounted for 77.7 percent of surgeons who reported a medical error in the previous three months, researchers suggested.