Screening for alcoholism in the primary care setting: are we talking to the right people?

Stephan Arndt; Susan K Schultz; Carolyn Turvey; Amy Petersen

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Screening for alcoholism in the primary care setting: are we talking to the right people?

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Screening for alcoholism in the primary care setting: are we talking to the right people?

Stephan Arndt, Susan K Schultz, Carolyn Turvey and Amy Petersen

The Journal of family practice, Vol.51(1), pp.41-46

01/2002

PMID: 11927063

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Abstract

This study assessed which demographic groups were most likely to consume alcohol excessively, and which groups had received inquiries and discussion about alcohol use from their physicians compared with discussions about other health risks. This was a cross-sectional study using data from the Centers for Disease Control Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System 1997 data set that represents a stratified random sample in the United States. We selected 23,349 adults who reported a routine physical examination within the last 3 years. The main variables involved responses to questions about alcohol intake and whether the respondent's physician had initiated discussions about drinking. Physicians spoke to patients about alcohol use much less frequently than about other health-related behaviors. Discussions were roughly targeted to groups with the largest intake. However, physicians were least likely to speak with white patients, women, and widows who drank significantly. Regularly asking patients about alcohol use could substantially reduce the under-recognition of alcoholism. Since brief counseling is effective, negative consequences of excessive alcohol intake may be avoided.

Medical History Taking

Age Factors

Cross-Sectional Studies

United States

Humans

Middle Aged

Logistic Models

Male

Physician-Patient Relations

Alcoholism - prevention & control

Alcoholism - diagnosis

Diagnostic Tests, Routine

Mass Screening

Sex Factors

Aged, 80 and over

Physical Examination

Adult

Female

Aged

Primary Health Care

Details

Title: Subtitle: Screening for alcoholism in the primary care setting: are we talking to the right people?
Creators: Stephan Arndt - University of Iowa College of Medicine, Psychiatry Research - MEB, Iowa City, IO 52242, USA. stephan-arndt@uiowa.edu
Susan K Schultz
Carolyn Turvey
Amy Petersen
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Journal of family practice, Vol.51(1), pp.41-46
PMID: 11927063
NLM abbreviation: J Fam Pract
ISSN: 0094-3509
eISSN: 1533-7294
Publisher: United States
Language: English
Date published: 01/2002
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Epidemiology; Biostatistics; Nursing; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984004095902771

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