title: Access to health care and heavy drinking in patients with diabetes or hypertension: implications for alcohol interventions.
abstract: Supported by a National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse grant, this study examined associations between health care access and heavy drinking in patients with hypertension and diabetes. Using a sample of 7,428 US adults from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey data, multivariate logistic regressions were performed. Better access to health care, as indicated by regular source of care and frequent use of primary care, was associated with reduced odds of heavy drinking. Alcohol interventions may be more effective if targeted at patients with chronic conditions adversely affected by drinking. Future research needs to investigate factors facilitating such interventions.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, USA. wcook@arg.org
authors.forename: Won Kim
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Cheryl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cherpitel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult