title: Usefulness, length and content of alcohol-related discussions in primary health care: the exit poll survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate patients' opinions of the usefulness of alcohol-related discussions with general practitioners (GPs), the time used for the discussion and its main content.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exit poll survey to 2000 consecutive patients right after GP consultations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 60.2% (1203/2000). Of the patients 11.6% (139/1203) reported that they were asked and/or advised about alcohol during the consultation. The time used for discussion about alcohol was mostly <4 min; longer for heavy than for non-heavy drinkers. Main topics of the discussion dealt with quantities consumed and harm caused by alcohol. The majority of the patients (81%) reported that discussions concerning alcohol were useful. In that respect heavy drinkers did not differ from non-heavy drinkers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Discussions about alcohol in primary health care were rare and short, but patients' opinions about their usefulness were mainly positive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, PO Box 33, FIN-00251 Helsinki, Finland. mauri.aalto@ktl.fi
authors.forename: Mauri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aalto
authors.forename: Kaija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seppä
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires