Substance abuse and dependence treatment in outpatient physician offices, 1997-2004.
OBJECTIVE
To examine patient, physician, and visit characteristics associated with treatment for substance abuse during outpatient physician visits.


METHODS
Secondary data was obtained from the 1997-2004 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.


RESULTS
A substance abuse diagnosis was recorded in .9% of general and family practice visits, .8% of internal medicine visits, and 5.1% of psychiatry visits. Multivariable logistic regression found that women, elderly, non-White, and established patients were less likely to be given a substance abuse diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased screening, particularly of existing patients, may lead to decreased gender, age, and racial disparities in diagnosis and treatment.
Banta
Jim E
JE
School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California 92350, USA. jbanta@llu.edu
Montgomery
Susanne
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010824:Physicians' Offices / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology