Doctors and alcohol screening - the gap between attitudes and action

The failure of doctors to identify patients who drink to excess has been attributed to inadequate education, negative attitudes towards problem drinkers and pessimism about treatment. As part of an early intervention programme at the York District Hospital, doctors were given brief alcohol education and encouraged to screen patients for alcohol problems. At subsequent evaluation doctors were well-informed about the nature and extent of alcohol problems and had positive attitudes to screening patients. Their performance did not reflect their views, however, with only 29 per cent of patients being screened. It is suggested that it is not unfavourable attitudes towards alcohol problems but doctors' perception of their role which determines their treatment of problem drinkers.