Guidelines for an alcohol clinic in primary healthcare clinics

Abstract

Background: In clinical practice, primary healthcare physicians commonly encounter patients with alcohol-related problems. This review article introduces the concept of an alcohol clinic for treating patients with these issues at primary healthcare clinics.Current Concepts: Alcohol-related problems often give rise to health problems, which prompts primary healthcare physicians to be required to develop screening, treatment, and counseling skills. Primary healthcare clinics should actively screen for alcohol-related problems. Screening involves questions regarding the frequency, quantity, and maximum consumption of alcohol to determine risk levels. For Koreans, moderate alcohol consumption is defined as ≤8 drinks per week (1 drink=14 g of alcohol) for men aged up to 65 years, and ≤4 drinks per week for men over 65 years; consumption for women is set at half of the amount defined for men. Individuals experiencing facial flushing after alcohol consumption are advised to limit their alcohol intake to half the amount consumed by those who do not experience flushing.Discussion and Conclusion: The focus for these patients should be on their environment, particularly when implementing a family-oriented approach. The decision to initiate drug treatment should be based on the symptoms of the patient, with follow-up evaluations performed at appropriate time points. The “FRAMES Motivational Enhancement Interview” and “Insight Enhancement Counseling” are recommended for an effective counseling of patients.