General practitioners' role in preventive medicine: scenario analysis using alcohol as a case study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• General practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role in identifying and intervening with patients at-risk of harmful drinking.
• Current literature provides data on GP detection rates, intervention uptake, and effectiveness, but a comprehensive model for Australian general practice is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze current GP detection and intervention rates for at-risk drinking in Australia.
• To develop a model for scenario analysis of detection, intervention, and effectiveness.
• To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of current practices and potential future scenarios.

Main Methods:

• A literature review was conducted to extract data on GP detection, intervention rates, and intervention effectiveness.
• A two-step scenario analysis was employed, identifying opportunities and assigning probabilities to outcomes.
• Cost implications of various intervention scenarios were considered.

Main Results:

• Increasing GP intervention rates offers the greatest benefit and return on resource use.
• A 5% increase in GP intervention is associated with 26,754 additional patients modifying drinking behavior at a cost of $231.45 per patient.
• Increasing detection or effectiveness rates showed comparable or higher costs per patient modified.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing GP intervention rates is the most cost-effective strategy for addressing at-risk drinking in Australian general practice.
• Practitioner knowledge, skills, and attitudes are significant motivators for patient behavior change.
• Investing in GP-led interventions for at-risk drinking demonstrates a favorable return on resource utilization.