Alcohol use and reported visits to health professionals: an exploratory study

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Epidemiology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Understanding healthcare utilization patterns across different alcohol consumption levels is crucial for public health.
• Previous research indicates alcohol consumption can influence health behaviors and healthcare access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between alcohol consumption patterns (non-drinkers, current drinkers, former drinkers) and healthcare professional visits.
• To explore differences in healthcare visits between regular and frequent alcohol drinkers.
• To analyze these relationships separately for men and women.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from a large population survey (N=35,246) with weighted analyses.
• Conducted multivariate analyses controlling for age, health problems, and psychological well-being.
• Performed separate analyses for men and women to account for potential gender differences.

Main Results:

• Healthcare visits generally increased with age and the number of reported health problems.
• Abstainers and former drinkers reported more frequent visits to healthcare professionals compared to current drinkers.
• Former drinkers had a higher number of visits than abstainers. Among men, increased daily alcohol intake correlated with fewer visits, though this was not significant for women.

Conclusions:

• Heavier alcohol consumption may be associated with a less preventive approach to health compared to light or moderate drinking.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the specific health behaviors differentiating heavier from light/moderate drinkers.
• Findings suggest potential disparities in healthcare engagement based on alcohol consumption levels, particularly among men.