Patterns of Alcohol Consumption and Use of Health Services in Spanish University Students: UniHcos Project

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the association of alcohol consumption patterns (hazardous alcohol use and binge drinking) and the use of emergency services and primary care consultations in university students. An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at eleven Spanish universities collaborating within the uniHcos Project. University students completed an online questionnaire that assessed hazardous alcohol use and binge drinking using the AUDIT questionnaire and evaluated the use of emergency services and primary care. A descriptive analysis of the data was performed, as well as the chi-squared test and Student’s t-test and nonconditional logistic regression models to examine this association. Results: There were 10,167 participants who completed the questionnaire. The prevalence of hazardous alcohol use was 16.9% (95% CI: 16.2–17.6), while the prevalence of binge drinking was 48.8% (95% CI: 47.9–49.8). There were significant differences in the use of emergency services in those surveyed with hazardous alcohol use (p < 0.001) or binge drinking pattern (p < 0.001). However, no significant differences were observed in terms of attendance during primary care visits in individuals with hazardous alcohol use (p = 0.367) or binge drinking pattern (p = 0.755). The current study shows the association between university students with a pattern of hazardous alcohol use or binge drinking and greater use of emergency services. However, no significant association was observed between the said consumption patterns and the use of primary care services.