TY - JOUR
T1 - 'I'm not a real boozer'
T2 - A qualitative study of primary care patients' views on drinking and its consequences
AU - Khadjesari, Z.
AU - Stevenson, F.
AU - Toner, P.
AU - Linke, S.
AU - Milward, J.
AU - Murray, E.
PY - 2019/6/1
Y1 - 2019/6/1
N2 - Background The public health message around alcohol is complex, with benefits versus harms, the confusing concept of risk and drinking guidance changing over time. This provides a difficult context for alcohol screening in primary care, with established barriers from the practitioner perspective, but less is known about the patients' perspective. This study explores patients' views on drinking. Methods Eligible participants were recorded as drinking above low risk levels in primary care. Six practices in North London participated. Interviews were in-depth, semi-structured, transcribed verbatim and underwent detailed thematic analysis. Findings Interviews were conducted with 8 women and 12 men, aged 26-83 years, mostly educated to undergraduate level and of 'White' ethnicity. UK drinking guidance was viewed as irrelevant for reasons related to life stage, lifestyle and absence of harm. Dependence, loss of functionality and control were perceived as key features of problematic drinking. Healthy lifestyles, in terms of diet, exercise and not smoking, were thought to mitigate potential problems associated with alcohol intake. Conclusion The findings suggest that public health messages and brief advice should focus on harm experienced at different life stages, among people with different lifestyles, to challenge the ubiquitous view that 'I'm not a real boozer'.
AB - Background The public health message around alcohol is complex, with benefits versus harms, the confusing concept of risk and drinking guidance changing over time. This provides a difficult context for alcohol screening in primary care, with established barriers from the practitioner perspective, but less is known about the patients' perspective. This study explores patients' views on drinking. Methods Eligible participants were recorded as drinking above low risk levels in primary care. Six practices in North London participated. Interviews were in-depth, semi-structured, transcribed verbatim and underwent detailed thematic analysis. Findings Interviews were conducted with 8 women and 12 men, aged 26-83 years, mostly educated to undergraduate level and of 'White' ethnicity. UK drinking guidance was viewed as irrelevant for reasons related to life stage, lifestyle and absence of harm. Dependence, loss of functionality and control were perceived as key features of problematic drinking. Healthy lifestyles, in terms of diet, exercise and not smoking, were thought to mitigate potential problems associated with alcohol intake. Conclusion The findings suggest that public health messages and brief advice should focus on harm experienced at different life stages, among people with different lifestyles, to challenge the ubiquitous view that 'I'm not a real boozer'.
KW - Alcohol consumption
KW - Health promotion
KW - Non-help seeking patients
KW - Primary care
KW - Qualitative interviews
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85072705127&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/pubmed/fdy067
DO - 10.1093/pubmed/fdy067
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85072705127
SN - 1741-3842
VL - 41
SP - E185-E191
JO - Journal of Public Health (United Kingdom)
JF - Journal of Public Health (United Kingdom)
IS - 2
ER -
