Alcohol use and reported visits to health professionals: an exploratory study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the differences in visits to health care professionals between drinkers and nondrinkers, as well as between regular and frequent drinkers.
METHODS: Multivariate analyses were conducted, using data from a population survey (weighted N = 35,246, 53.6% women). Analyses were carried out for men and women separately, controlling for the effects of age, health problems and psychological well-being.
RESULTS: In general, visits to health professionals increased with age and number of health problems. Abstainers and former drinkers were more likely to visit health care professionals than were current drinkers. Former drinkers reported higher number of visits than abstainers for both men and women. Among male current drinkers, reported number of visits to health professionals appeared to decrease as drinks per day increased. These associations, however, were not significant among women.
CONCLUSIONS: In light of these results, it was suggested that heavier drinkers might take a less preventive approach to health than either light or moderate drinkers. More research is needed to examine the differences in health behaviors between heavier and light/moderate drinkers.