BACKGROUND: The alcohol drinking habits in the Norwegian population has changed. We do not know whether this applies to doctors as well. In general, a possible association between job satisfaction and alcohol drinking habits has not been shown for doctors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional questionnaire surveys of representative samples of Norwegian doctors in 1985, 1993 and 2000. RESULTS: 33% of the doctors drank alcohol more often than once weekly in 2000, versus 22% in 1985. The pace of change accelerated between 1993 and 2000, compared to 1985 to 1993. The proportion of doctors with a modified AUDIT score of 6 or more increased from 12% to 15% from 1993 to 2000, and the proportion with a modified AUDIT score of 13 or more increased from 0.6% to 1.3%. We found no correlation between job satisfaction and drinking habits. INTERPRETATION: The change in drinking habits among Norwegian doctors is similar to the change in the population at large. More frequent moderate consumption of alcohol has not been accompanied by less frequent consumption of larger amounts of alcohol.
BACKGROUND: The alcohol drinking habits in the Norwegian population has changed. We do not know whether this applies to doctors as well. In general, a possible association between job satisfaction and alcohol drinking habits has not been shown for doctors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional questionnaire surveys of representative samples of Norwegian doctors in 1985, 1993 and 2000. RESULTS: 33% of the doctors drank alcohol more often than once weekly in 2000, versus 22% in 1985. The pace of change accelerated between 1993 and 2000, compared to 1985 to 1993. The proportion of doctors with a modified AUDIT score of 6 or more increased from 12% to 15% from 1993 to 2000, and the proportion with a modified AUDIT score of 13 or more increased from 0.6% to 1.3%. We found no correlation between job satisfaction and drinking habits. INTERPRETATION: The change in drinking habits among Norwegian doctors is similar to the change in the population at large. More frequent moderate consumption of alcohol has not been accompanied by less frequent consumption of larger amounts of alcohol.