WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT FOR GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS TO DISCUSS ALCOHOL WITH PATIENTS

If general practitioners are to take an active role in the secondary p revention of problems connected with alcohol, they must be able to dis cuss the subject in an adequate fashion. Interviews from a trial study showed that the greatest difficulties were lack of time and fear of s poiling the relationship with the patient. Earlier studies indicate th at the latter problem may have several causes, in part arising from a desire not to infringe upon the integrity of the patient, and partly d ue to condemnation of excessive drinkers. In other words, the root cau se is often contradictory conceptions of alcohol problems on the part of the physician. In order to ensure effective alcohol counselling in primary care, such conceptions must be dealt with in future training c ourses.