Use and barriers to use of screening and brief interventions for alcohol problems among Norwegian general practitioners.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the use and the obstacles to use of screening and brief interventions (SBI) for alcohol misuse among Norwegian general practitioners (GP).


METHODS
A questionnaire with 68 questions about the use and barriers to use of SBI in general practice was mailed to 2000 randomly selected Norwegian GPs.


RESULTS
The survey response rate was 45%. There was a much higher prevalence of using interventions (mean = 4.47 on a seven-point Likert scale) than of screening for alcohol problems (mean = 2.10 on a seven-point Likert scale). Regression models showed that knowledge and self-efficacy were the main predictors for GPs' use of screening instruments and use of interventions, respectively, in particular with regard to use of screening. However, GPs' views of their relationship with their patients, and structural factors were significant predictors.


CONCLUSIONS
(i) Norwegian GPs do not necessarily see the link between screening for alcohol problems and conducting interventions. (ii) Factors on at least three levels, i.e. personal, social and structural, play significant roles for understanding the problems related to implementing the use of SBI in general practice. (iii) Training GPs in the use of SBI is important but may not increase GPs' use of SBI due to social and structural barriers.
Nygaard
Peter
P
Prevention Research Center, 1995 University Avenue, Suite 450, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA. pnygaard@prev.org
Paschall
Mallie J
MJ
Aasland
Olaf G
OG
Lund
Karl Erik
KE
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D020377:Self Efficacy