title: Alcohol in Primary Care. Differential characteristics between alcohol-dependent patients who are receiving or not receiving treatment.
abstract: primary health care services for other reasons. The aim of the present study is to describe the differential characteristics of AD patients in primary care, distinguishing between those who receive treatment and those who do not, and their reasons for not seeking it. In a cross-sectional study patients were evaluated by their general practitioner (GP) and interviewed by a member of the research team. Sociodemographic, diagnostic and clinical data were collected. From 1,372 patients interviewed in Catalonia, 118 (8.6%) were diagnosed as AD. These patients showed a lower socioeconomic status (48.3% vs 33.3%, odds ratio 2.02), higher unemployment rates (32.2% vs 19.2 %, odds ratio 2.11), and greater psychological distress and disability. Patients with AD receiving treatment (16.9%), were older (44 vs 36 years of age), reported higher unemployment rates (66% vs 25.5%, odds ratio 6.32) and higher daily alcohol consumption (61.5 vs 23.7 grams), suggesting a more advanced disease. Patients with AD in general showed a higher degree of comorbidity compared to other patients, with patients in treatment showing the most elevated level. The main reasons given for not seeking treatment were shame, fear of giving up drinking and barriers to treatment. Taken together, the data suggest the need to implement earlier strategies for the detection and treatment of AD.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico Universitario de Barcelona. Universidad de Barcelona Red de Trastornos Adictivos (RTA). pbarrio@clinic.ub.es.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barrio
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miquel
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreno-España
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Lluisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teixidor
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manthey
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rehm
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gual
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011320:Primary Health Care