Identification of and Guidance for Problem Drinking by General Medical Providers: Results from a National Survey

• Published in: Medical care 2005-03, Vol.43 (3), p.229-236
• Main Authors: D'Amico, Elizabeth J., Paddock, Susan M., Burnam, Audrey, Kung, Fuan-Yue
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Alcohol abuse; Alcohol drinking; Alcohol use; Alcoholism; Alcoholism - diagnosis; Alcoholism - therapy; Alcohols; Counseling - statistics & numerical data; Demography; Family Practice - standards; Female; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Male; Mass Screening - statistics & numerical data; Medical referrals; Mental health; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Patient care; Physician-Patient Relations; Physicians; Polls & surveys; Practice Patterns, Physicians; Primary care; Primary health care; Primary Health Care - standards; Quality of Health Care; Referral and Consultation; United States
• ISSN: 0025-7079; 1537-1948
• DOI: 10.1097/00005650-200503000-00005

Background: Heavy alcohol use is associated with health costs and medical problems. There has been a growing consensus that primary care patients should be screened for alcohol problems. Objectives: We examined rates at which patients were asked about alcohol or drug use and problems, extending research in this area by using a standardized problem drinking instrument with a large national sample, examining community level variables, and assessing the extent to which patients who were identified received follow-up. Subjects: A subsample of 7371 persons from the 1998 Healthcare for Communities survey who reported visiting a general medical provider (GMP) in the past year. Measures: Participants completed questionnaires on demographics, mental and physical health, alcohol, drug use and problems, enrollment in a managed health care plan, whether their medical provider asked about alcohol or drug use, and whether they received advice, counseling, or referral. Results: Being asked about alcohol and drug use was associated with being male, young, highly educated, more health problems, mental health diagnosis, and being classified as a problem drinker. Only 48% of problem drinkers received any follow-up, with most being told to "stop drinking" by their GMP. Conclusions: Few people are queried about alcohol or drug use when they visit a GMP. When problem use is identified, most patients do not receive appropriate follow-up and aftercare. The quality of primary care could improve if GMPs were educated about providing brief advice/counseling and were given information concerning resources in their community to make appropriate referrals for patients.