Abstract

Background. Early identification of risk drinking combined with counselling in primary health care is an effective way of preventing alcohol related health problems.

Aim. (i) To evaluate the suitability of early identification of risk drinking and counselling of primary health care patients in Estonia, (ii) to assess the appropriateness of training, and methods related and counselling materials.

Methods. During the pilot project 265 patients aged 18–65 years filled in the AUDIT questionnaire in 6 primary health care centres in Estonia. According to the test result, information or counselling was provided to the patients. The opinions of 8 family doctors and 7 family nurses participating in the project were collected using the questionnaire and structured group work combined with discussion. Descriptive statistics and qualitative text analysis were used to analyzs the data.

Results. Hazardous and harmful drinking (AUDIT score ≥8) was found in 23% of the patients. According to the opinion of the health professionals, completing of the AUDIT questionnaire was easy for 93% of the patients. However, answering the questions was perceived to be significantly more inconvenient for patients with the AUDIT score ≥ 8 compared to low risk patients. In 88% of the cases not more than 20 minutes were spent for testing and counselling. The higher the AUDIT score the more time was spent for interviewing and counselling. For the health professionals, interviewing the patients was perceived easier than counselling.

Conclusion. Continuous practical training, considering the specificity of primary health care, is necessary in order to promote the counselling skills of primary health care special ists. Early identification of risk drinking and counselling are feasible in the primary health care system in Estonia.