DO PRIMARY-CARE PHYSICIANS SCREEN PATIENTS ABOUT ALCOHOL INTAKE USINGTHE CAGE QUESTIONS

The performances of 134 primary care physicians at initial screening a bout alcohol use and screening with the CAGE questions were assessed u sing 17 standardized patients, For three-fourths of the standardized p atients, more than 50% of the physicians asked an initial alcohol scre ening question, However, use of the CAGE questions with six patients w ho reported drinking more than one drink per day was less consistent; for most of these patients, few physicians asked any CAGE questions, F ewer than 50% of the physicians included alcohol abuse in the differen tial diagnosis for three of four patients who drank four or more drink s per day, Methods are needed to incorporate the CAGE questions into p rimary care practices in a more systematic manner.