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Alcohol use by healthcare professionals
1Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Butler Hospital, Box G-BH, Providence, RI 02912, USA. george_kenna@brown.edu
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|July 1, 2004
Summary
Dentists and physicians show distinct alcohol consumption patterns compared to nurses and pharmacists. This study highlights differences in healthcare professional drinking habits and influences.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Public Health
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Previous research on alcohol use among healthcare professionals often lacks cross-group comparisons and excludes dentists.
- Understanding alcohol consumption patterns across different healthcare professions is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare alcohol use, misuse, and abuse among dentists, nurses, pharmacists, and physicians.
- To identify factors influencing alcohol consumption within these professional groups.
Main Methods:
- A mail survey was administered to 479 healthcare professionals, achieving a 68.7% response rate.
- Self-report measures assessed patterns of alcohol use, monthly drinking, heavy episodic drinking, alcohol-related dysfunction, and social/professional influences.
Main Results:
- Dentists reported higher alcohol consumption than other surveyed healthcare professionals.
- Alcohol use by nurses may have a broader public health impact.
- Physicians received more offers for alcohol from pharmaceutical companies; dentists received more social offers.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare professionals, in general, appear to consume less alcohol than the general population.
- Dentists exhibit significantly higher alcohol use compared to most other healthcare professionals.
- Findings address knowledge gaps regarding the prevalence and promotion of alcohol use and misuse among healthcare professionals.