Estimation of the Prevalence of Substance Use Problems among Nurses Using Capture-Recapture Methods

Abstract

This study estimated the lifetime prevalence of substance use problems among registered nurses using capture-recapture methods with two separate items indicating a history of substance use problems from the same questionnaire. Capture-recapture methods yielded an estimate of 6.4 percent of nurses with a history of substance use problems, a 22 percent increase in the estimate from the data as collected. Among respondents indicating no history of problems, a substantial number reported substance use behavior that was as high as those in the reported problem group, suggesting that the estimate of additional unreported cases (from capture-recapture) is plausible. This estimate should be valuable for planning preventive initiatives for nurses, and the methodology should invite further consideration of multiple measures of a variable as sources to estimate prevalence using capture-recapture methods.