Claassen J N
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
S Afr Med J. 1999 Sep;89(9):976-9.
Testing the benefits of the CAGE questionnaire (a four-item test with questions on Cutting down, Annoyance at criticism, Guilty feelings and use of Eye-openers) in screening for possible alcoholism in rural underserviced South Africa.
The CAGE questionnaire and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual i.v. diagnostic criteria for substance abuse and dependence were used to screen a representative sample (N = 96) of a rural community in the North West province of South Africa.
The closed community of Ammerville situated at Fraserburg, approximately 500 km from Cape Town.
Adults above the age of 18 years.
The prevalence of alcohol dependence in this community was 56%. The 'positive' CAGE (two or more affirmative replies) showed a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 78% for alcohol dependence. This compared favourably with similar screening results in other clinical settings.
The high prevalence of alcohol dependence (56%) in this community, and the possibility of comparable results in many similar rural South African communities, reflect a startling reality that should be addressed. Use of the CAGE by other than traditional sources is recommended and emphasised. Treatment modalities for alcohol dependence and abuse in rural areas should be developed.
测试CAGE问卷（一项包含关于减少饮酒、因批评而烦恼、有负罪感以及使用提神物品这四个问题的测试）在南非农村医疗服务不足地区筛查潜在酒精成瘾问题中的作用。
采用CAGE问卷以及《精神疾病诊断与统计手册》第四版中物质滥用和依赖的诊断标准，对南非西北省一个农村社区的代表性样本（N = 96）进行筛查。
位于弗雷泽堡的阿默维尔封闭社区，距离开普敦约500公里。
18岁以上成年人。
该社区酒精依赖的患病率为56%。“阳性”CAGE问卷（两个或更多肯定回答）对酒精依赖的敏感度为100%，特异度为78%。这与其他临床环境中的类似筛查结果相比具有优势。
该社区酒精依赖的高患病率（56%），以及在许多类似的南非农村社区可能得到的可比结果，反映了一个应予以关注的惊人现实。建议并强调非传统来源使用CAGE问卷。应开发农村地区酒精依赖和滥用的治疗模式。
