Addressing alcohol problems in primary care settings: A study of general medical practitioners in Cape Town,South Africa

Abstract

Aims: To explore alcohol-related practices among general practitioners (GPs) in the Cape Town metropole and to examine barriers to addressing risky drinking among patients. Method: A cross-sectional survey of 50 GPs was conducted between November 2004 and April 2005. A questionnaire assessing GPs' alcohol-related practices and barriers to alcohol-related interventions was administered to participating GPs. Results: In the past 12 months, most GPs reported seeing only 11—30 patients for alcohol problems specifically. While only 12% thought that they could effectively help patients reduce their alcohol consumption, 78% of GPs indicated that, given adequate training and support, they could become more effective. Among the barriers that hindered their ability to intervene in patients' alcohol-related problems were difficulties in getting reimbursed for treating patients with alcohol problems, insufficient training, lack of materials with which to do screening and counselling, perceptions of ineffectiveness, and time constraints. Conclusions: GPs are willing to conduct interventions for risky drinking but require additional training in these interventions as well as appropriate support and intervention tools.

Keywords

General practitioners prevention primary care problem drinking

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