Primary health care professionals' activity in intervening in patients' alcohol drinking:: a patient perspective

Aim: To test the hypothesis that primary health care professionals' activity in intervening in patients' alcohol drinking is low. Method: A patient questionnaire Survey after Consultation blind to the primary health care professionals. Subjects were 1000 16-65-year-old consecutive patients consulting a general practitioner, The response rate as 66.5%. Results: Of all participants 6.3% and of excessive drinkers 11.9% were asked about alcohol drinking Lit the consultation in question. Of all 64.7% and of excessive drinkers 52.4% had never been asked aabout drinking, Of all 6.0% and of excessive drinkers 19.0% were advised about alcohol drinking at the consultation in question, Conclusion Alcohol drinking is rarely brought up in discussion by primary health care professionals, even in the case of excessive drinkers. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.