Updated Positions of Consultancy of the Patient with Drinking Alcohol Problems in the Family Doctor’s Practice (Based on European Experience)

Abstract

Alcohol use causes many health disorders and other problems. The family physician and his/her staff play an indispensable role in the early detection of dangerous and harmful alcohol in their patients. The purpose is to analyze the current provisions of counseling the patient on the problem of alcohol use in clinical practice by a family doctor, as well as to formulate this skill in the process of teaching based on a European (Croatian) protocol for managing this problem in primary medical practice. The risks and consequences of drinking are an extremely big health problem because of its prevalence and severity. Managing such issues requires a holistic approach from patients, families and the entire community to its institutions and organizations. All physicians, especially family physicians with their staff, who play an essential role in the prevention and, in particular, the early detection of dangerous and harmful alcohol consumption, play a very important role in this. Every doctor, regardless of their specialty, must adopt a basic approach to dealing with alcohol problems. The main tasks of physicians in this situation are the following: ask, evaluate, provide advice, obtain consent and compliance with the patient, provide protocol assistance, and follow-up.