A chat about drinking
EVEN five minutes of straight talk from a physician can reduce alcohol-related injuries and accidents among problem drinking patients, a new study reports.
In the review of 21 separate clinical trials, researchers at Newcastle University in England and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine found that brief interventions by a physician reduced alcohol consumption by an average of four drinks a week. The review appears in the current issue of the Cochrane Library, a journal published by an international organization that evaluates healthcare research.
The effect of a physician’s counsel was strongest for problem drinkers who did not appear to be alcohol-dependent. “But more severely dependent drinkers, especially those not yet aware of the medical impact of their drinking, will also benefit,” said Fred Rotgers, a psychologist at Philadelphia College.
The study should motivate more physicians to tackle the often delicate discussion of problematic alcohol consumption with patients and have greater confidence that their input can make a difference, says Dr. Benjamin Ansell, director of UCLA’s Comprehensive Health Program.
Fearing “patient push-back,” physicians often shy away from the alcohol consumption conversation, Ansell says. “Doctors are often averse to confrontation,” says Ansell. “You run a fine line between getting information and trying not to offend.”
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