Opinions of alcohol-related issues among professionals in primary, occupational, and specialized health care

The objective of this study was to analyse differences in health care perso nnel's knowledge. skills. and attitudes in relation to alcohol-related matt ers by a postal questionnaire between primary, occupational. and specialize d health care. Heavy drinking was considered to be common among patients at all health care levels, and particularly in specialized health care. Howev er early recognition and treatment of heavy drinkers was considered more ap propriate in primary and occupational health care. than in specialized heal th care. Alcohol consumption was found to be an easy subject to discuss at all health care levels. In addition, 90% (165/183) of the respondents thoug ht that patients had a positive or neutral attitude towards questions on th eir alcohol consumption. Of the respondents. 32% (58/182) considered discus sing alcohol-related matters unacceptable and 81% (121/149) believed that t hey could not influence patients' drinking using brief intervention; there was no significant difference between different settings. Additionally. mot ivational skills of doctors and nurses were found to be poor at all health cars levels. Our study shows that, although discussing alcohol consumption is easy, better motivational skills and more positive attitudes are needed in primary. occupational. and specialized health care. Professionals need f urther education at all health care levels, but particularly in specialized health care.