BACKGROUND: The Optimizing Delivery of Health Care Interventions (ODHIN) project focused on the implementation of screening and brief intervention for hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption in primary health care. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether alcohol drinking pattern is associated with demographic features of primary health care patients in Poland and if it is possible to identify groups at highest risk for hazardous and harmful drinking.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled 8805 adult (mean age 54.98±16.94, M/F – 3581/5224) patients reporting to 30 general practitioners working in 10 primary health care units located in urban and partially rural areas in Poland. The shortened, 3-item version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) was the screening tool used.

RESULTS: Place of residence was significantly associated with higher odds of hazardous and harmful drinking diagnosis, referred to as AUDIT-C (+). Age and sex were significantly associated with AUDIT-C (+) and suspicion of alcohol dependence, referred to as AUDIT-C ³8 scores. Logistic regression revealed that males had 5-fold higher odds for hazardous and harmful drinking diagnosis and almost 28-fold higher odds for suspected alcohol dependence compared to females.

CONCLUSIONS: Demographic features are associated with drinking pattern of primary health patients in Poland. Young males and those inhabiting rural areas are at highest risk of being hazardous or harmful drinkers and of being alcohol dependent. There is a growing need for development of national guidelines to address the prevention of alcohol-related health problems by general practitioners.

Keywords: Alcoholism, general practitioners, Rural Population, Urban Population