Intention to utilize formal help in a sample with alcohol problems: a prospective study.
BACKGROUND
Studies investigating factors of treatment entry have predominantly focussed on persons that have already taken an initial step in the process of help-seeking. With particular emphasis on intention to utilize help, this study aims to detect predictors for alcohol-related help-seeking among a non-help-utilizing sample.


METHODS
Using 312 individuals with diverse alcohol problems (dependence, abuse, at-risk drinking), intention to utilize help was assessed in addition to evidence based predictors for utilization of help (e.g. severity of alcohol problem, prior help-seeking).


RESULTS
In addition to prior utilization of help (OR=9.76, CI: 4.60-20.74) and adverse consequences from drinking (OR=1.13, CI: 1.02-1.25), intention to utilize help (OR=4.84, CI: 2.04-11.51) was a central predictor for help-seeking. Among individuals who had not obtained prior help, individuals intending to seek help were 8.7 times more likely to utilize help than those not intending to seek help (CI: 1.05-72.2).


CONCLUSIONS
In the past, intention to utilize help has been neglected from models investigating treatment entry. This study's findings show that intention is a central factor for utilization of alcohol-specific formal help. Consequently, brief interventions focusing on enhancing motivation are expected to improve early help-seeking among general hospital patients with diverse alcohol problems.
Freyer
Jennis
J
Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Walther-Rathenau-Str. 48, 17487 Greifswald, Germany. freyer@uni-greifswald.de
Coder
Beate
B
Bischof
Gallus
G
Baumeister
Sebastian E
SE
Rumpf
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
John
Ulrich
U
Hapke
Ulfert
U
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013850:Thinking