OBJECTIVE: To describe adult primary care physicians’ and psychiatrists’ approach to alcohol screening and treatment, and to identify
correlates of more optimal practices.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional mailed survey.
PARTICIPANTS: A national systematic sample of 2,000 physicians practicing general internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics-gynecology,
and psychiatry.
MEASUREMENTS: Self-reported frequency of screening new outpatients, and treatment recommendations in patients with diagnosed alcohol problems,
on 5-point Likert-type scales.
MAIN RESULTS: Of the 853 respondent physicians (adjusted response rate, 57%), 88% usually or always ask new outpatients about alcohol use.
When evaluating patients who drink, 47% regularly inquire about maximum amounts on an occasion, and 13% use formal alcohol
screening tools. Only 82% routinely offer intervention to diagnosed problem drinkers. Psychiatrists had the most optimal practices;
more consistent screening and intervention was also associated with greater confidence in alcohol history taking, familiarity
with expert guidelines, and less concern that patients will object.
CONCLUSIONS: Most primary care physicians and psychiatrists ask patients about alcohol use, but fewer use recommended screening protocols
of offer formal treatment. A substantial minority of physicians miss the opportunity to intervene in alcohol problems. Efforts
to improve physicians’ screening and intervention for alcohol problems should address their confidence in their skills, familiarity
with expert recommendations, and beliefs that patients object to their involvement
Key words alcoholism - screening - treatment - physician behavior - quality of care
Presented in part at the annual meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine, Chicago, Ill, April 1998.