health
Doctors advised to screen patients for alcohol, discuss drinking guidelines
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 24, 2011
Physicians should talk to young adult patients about their alcohol use and counsel those whose consumption exceeds limits set by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, says a study published online Sept. 21 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
NIAAA researchers in 2006 surveyed 3,799 people age 18 to 39 on their drinking habits and whether they visited a doctor during the past year. Participants who saw a physician were asked additional questions to determine whether he or she assessed their alcohol use and advised them about safe drinking practices during the visit.
The study found that 47% of participants exceeded the NIAAA's daily or weekly alcohol consumption limits (link). The limits call for men to have no more than four alcoholic drinks a day and up to 14 per week. For women, the guidelines are three or fewer alcoholic drinks a day and no more than seven a week.
Of respondents who visited a physician and whose drinking exceeded guidelines, 49% recalled the doctor asking about their drinking. Only 14% of those participants were informed of low-risk drinking guidelines, and 7% were advised to reduce their alcohol intake.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/10/24/hlbf1024.htm.
