Are brief intervention recommendations feasible?
Kuokkanen, M.; Seppä, K.
Duodecim; Laaketieteellinen Aikakauskirja 126(11): 1322-1327
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-7183 PMID: 20681356 Document Number: 640045
Primary health care contacts are a suitable arena to reduce patients' risky drinking. We studied whether the clinical guidelines are followed and thus considered feasible by nurses and physicians. A naturalistic material in Helsinki primary health care was collected in 2006-2008. Most professionals participated giving information on 18000 primary health care patients, of whom 56% had fulfilled the AUDIT-test. Most risky drinkers (AUDIT > or = 8) were given advice, 80% even booklets or other material, as recommended in the guidelines. Thus, brief intervention recommendations, including the use of the AUDIT, seem to be feasible in primary care settings.