Attitudes of New Zealand general practitioners to alcohol-related problems

The attitudes of a self-selected group of general practitioners indicated majority support for a traditional disease conception of alcoholism embodying abstinence as the goal of treatment. Separate attitudinal factors which emerged represented a modified disease conception, a moralistic attitude and a belief in a drinking-problem continuum. The general practitioners' attitude structure was significantly related with their practice and belief in the efficacy of giving advice to patients with alcohol-related problems.