[Detection and handling of alcohol problems in primary care in Catalonia]

To gain information on how well strategies for alcohol problem detection and interventions are being implemented in primary care in Catalonia, Spain.

Longitudinal pre/post study to evaluate the impact of the distribution to primary care professionals of a training programme for detecting alcohol problems and intervening in them. Descriptive analysis of the basic situation, using interviews with patients and professionals and examination of clinical histories (CH).

Health districts that existed in Catalonia in 2001.

Twenty eight health districts, 973 patients, 80 professionals, and 852 clinical histories examined.

Data were collected, by means of questionnaires for professionals and patients and of ad-hoc instruments for examining clinical histories, on the levels of primary care screening for alcohol consumption and of intervention.

There was a major disparity in the data between the 3 sources. Thus the screening of consumption and counselling was recorded much less in the CHs than amounts that patients said they received and that professionals said they performed. In addition, most of the at-risk drinkers that were seen in PC were not detected. On comparing them with non-risk drinkers we found significant differences in sex, job, familiarity with the centre and having been asked or not about their alcohol consumption.

Given the deficiencies found in PC preventive activity on alcohol consumption and as alcohol consumption has such huge social and health repercussions on the general population, we think it is fully justified to introduce into PC specific training programmes on screening and brief intervention techniques for alcohol problems.