Alcohol consumption in Spanish primary health care providers: a national, cross-sectional study

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 9; no. 2; p. e024211
• Main Authors: Romero-Rodríguez, Esperanza, Pérula de Torres, Luis Ángel, Fernández García, José Ángel, Parras Rejano, Juan Manuel, Roldán Villalobos, Ana, Camarelles Guillén, Francisco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.02.2019; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Age Distribution; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcohol use; Alcoholism; Binge Drinking - epidemiology; Consumption; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drinking behavior; Equality; Female; General practice / Family practice; Health care industry; Health facilities; Health services; Health surveys; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nurses; Nurses - statistics & numerical data; Physicians, Primary Care - statistics & numerical data; Primary care; Primary Care Nursing; Professionals; Public health; Questionnaires; Sample size; Sex Distribution; Social services; Sociodemographics; Spain - epidemiology; Surgeons; Validity; Spain; United States > US; Germany; alcohol; primary health care; alcohol consumption; consumption pattern; professional
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024211

AimTo estimate the prevalence of alcohol consumption and analyse the drinking patterns among primary healthcare (PHC) providers.DesignObservational, cross-sectional, descriptive study.SettingPHC centres in the Spanish National Health System (SNHS).ParticipantsDoctors and nurses who completed an online questionnaire which explored their alcohol intake, using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) alcohol assessment tool. The study population was recruited by random sampling stratified by regions of the SNHS PHC centres.Primary and secondary outcome measuresFrequency of alcohol consumption, number of alcohol drinks on a typical day, frequency of more than six standard drinks (SDs) intake.ResultsA total of 1760 PHC providers completed the questionnaire. The frequency of alcohol consumption was: abstention (12%, 95% CI 10.4% to 13.5%); one or less SDs/month (26%, 95% CI 23.8% to 27.9%); 2–4 SDs/month (32.2%, 95% CI 29.7% to 34.1%); 2–3 SDs/week (17.9%, 95% CI 16.0% to 19.6%); four or more SDs/week (11.9%, 95% CI 10.3% to 13.3%). The number of drinks on a typical day was: none (45.6%, 95% CI 42.9% to 47.6%); 1–2 drinks (47.3%, 95% CI 23.8% to 27.9%); 3–4 drinks (6.5%, 95% CI 5.3% to 7.6%). The percentage of hazardous drinking, according to AUDIT-C criteria, was 32% (95% CI 26.7 to 37.3), with a greater frequency of intake in older professionals (p<0.001), in contrast to a higher number of drinks consumed on a typical day by younger providers (p<0.001). Intake was higher among males (p<0.001), primary care physicians (p<0.001) and resident trainers (p<0.001).ConclusionsOur study discloses the most up-to-date portrait of current alcohol consumption among Spanish PHC providers, showing a higher prevalence of alcohol intake, compared with the general population. Preventive strategies should be implemented to improve the awareness and training of PHC professionals towards alcohol consumption.