ALCOHOL-USE AND REPORTED VISITS TO HEALTH-PROFESSIONALS - AN EXPLORATORY-STUDY

Objective: To examine the differences in visits to health care profess ionals between drinkers and nondrinkers, as well as between regular an d frequent drinkers. Method: Multivariate analyses were conducted, usi ng data from a population survey (weighted N = 35,246, 53.6% women). A nalyses were carried out for men and women separately, controlling for the effects of age, health problems and psychological well-being. Res ults: In general, visits to health professionals increased with age an d number of health problems. Abstainers and former drinkers were more likely to visit health care professionals than were current drinkers. Former drinkers reported higher number of visits than abstainers for b oth men and women. Among male current drinkers, reported number of vis its to health professionals appeared to decrease as drinks per day inc reased. These associations, however, were not significant among women. Conclusions: In light of these results, it was suggested that heavier drinkers might tab a less preventive approach to health than either l ight or moderate drinkers, More research is needed to examine the diff erences in health behaviors between heavier and light/moderate drinker s.