[Screening for alcohol overconsumption in general practice. Experiences of general practitioners with a patient questionnaire].
BACKGROUND
We investigated to which degree a sample of 143 general practitioners in the County of Copenhagen would screen their patients for problem drinking by using The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Furthermore, among users of AUDIT, we aimed to describe the doctors' perception of using it.


METHODS
Eighty-one out of the 143 doctors requested AUDIT. However, after they had had the possibility of using AUDIT, only 38 had handed an AUDIT to at least one patient. These 38 doctors were asked to answer a questionnaire on which this study is based.


RESULTS
Thirty-two percent (12/38) of the doctors handed out an AUDIT in more than 14 days, and 21% (8/38) gave at least 100 patients an AUDIT. The general practitioners worked a median of 20 days in their practice during the study period. Only 14% (5/36) would screen all their patients in the future, and 42% (15/36) only when they suspected problem drinking. Sixty-four percent (22/34) of the doctors stated that handing all patients an AUDIT was much too time-consuming, 50% (17/34) stated that financial incentives are necessary, and 53% (18/34) questioned whether the patients wanted an AUDIT. Sixty-six percent (23/35) of the doctors judged that they had improved in detecting patients with alcohol related problems.


CONCLUSIONS
The participating general practitioners were not interested in handing all patients an AUDIT. Major barriers were lack of time and financial incentives and furthermore the doctors questioned whether the patients wanted an AUDIT. However, half of the doctors would use AUDIT for certain patients, especially when they suspected problem drinking.
Hansen
L J
LJ
Københavns Universitet, Panum Instituttet, Central Forskningsenhed for Almen Praksis og afdeling for almen medicin. L.Hansen@gpract.ku.dk
de Fine Olivarius
N
N
Beich
A
A
Barfod
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003718:Denmark; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires