Comparison of Pattern of Alcohol Consumption and Related Factors in Patients Referred to Referral Hospitals in Shahrekord, Iran (2016-2017)

Background and aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the pattern of alcohol consumption and its related factors in the patients referring to hospitals. Methods: A hospital-based case control study was carried out in Shahrekord during 2016-2017. A total of 150 individuals who had self-report of alcohol consumption and history of alcoholism entered into the case group based on the convenience sampling method. Likewise, 300 individuals who did not have self-report of alcohol consumption entered into the control group. Group matching was performed based on the date of admission to the hospital, type of disease, complications, and duration of the disease. This study explored the pattern of alcohol consumption variables, spiritual health, quality of life, and general health. Odds ratios (ORs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated as well. Results: The causes of onset of alcohol consumption were curiosity (41.40%), social class and imitation of others (17.40%), and life problems (15.30%). Further, the causes of continued alcohol consumption were attributed to the interest in taste and smelling (23.30%), emotional problems (20%), as well as loneliness feeling and life problems (12.60%). The mean of general health scores in the case and control groups were 29.8± 5 and 29.3± 4, respectively (P=0.296). The mean of the quality of life in the case group and control group were 32.13± 7 and 32.11± 5, respectively (P=0.98). The differences in the scores of spiritual health in two groups were not statistically significant (P=0.96). Conclusion: An attempt should be made to improve the strategies to satisfy the emotional sense and health recreations of society.