Patient and practitioner characteristics predict brief alcohol intervention in primary care

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• General Practice
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Effective healthcare interventions require consistent delivery to appropriate patients.
• Brief alcohol intervention is proven to reduce excessive drinking and related harms.
• Implementation trials show partial delivery by general practitioners (GPs) may reduce impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify patient and practitioner characteristics affecting brief alcohol intervention delivery in primary care.
• To understand factors influencing the selective provision of evidence-based alcohol interventions.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of 12,814 Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) screening questionnaires.
• Data collected from 84 GPs in Northeast England over a three-month period.
• Analysis included patient demographics, risk status, GP training, and consultation length.

Main Results:

• Only 50% (2043/4080) of at-risk drinkers received brief intervention.
• Males, unemployed, and technically-trained patients were more likely to receive intervention.
• Patient risk status, GP training, and consultation length were significant predictors of intervention delivery.

Conclusions:

• Interpersonal factors related to patients and practitioners contribute to selective brief alcohol intervention delivery.
• Addressing these factors is crucial to maintain the impact of this evidence-based intervention in routine practice.
• Strategies are needed to ensure equitable delivery of brief alcohol interventions to all at-risk patients.