Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: August | Volume: 9 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 35-42
Opportunistic Screening for Substance Abuse in Primary Health Care Setting in India: An Operational Research
Yamini M1, Bharathnag N2
1Senior Resident, Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi-110002
2Senior Resident, Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi-110070
Corresponding Author: Bharathnag N
ABSTRACT
Background: Globally every 10 seconds a person dies from alcohol-related causes including cancers, heart disease, traffic crashes and violence. Tobacco use causes one death every six seconds globally. This study is conducted to assess the prevalence of substance abuse in an urban primary health care setting.
Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in three urban health care and training centers (UHTC) in which adult male OPD attendees were asked about their alcohol consumption and smoking behavior. The FTND questionnaire and the AUDIT scale were used.
Results: Alcohol consumption was present in 63% (95% CI: 58% – 67%) of the male OPD patients. Fifty four percent (95% CI: 48% – 59%) of the alcohol users were in zone I, 24% (95% CI: 19% – 28%) were in zone II (hazardous drinkers), 9% (95% CI: 06% – 13%) in zone III (harmful drinkers) and remaining 13% (95% CI: 9% – 16%) in zone IV (dependent drinkers). Thirty nine percent (95% CI: 34% – 43%) of the male OPD patients were smoking tobacco. Low nicotine dependence was there in 63% (95% CI: 54% – 71%) of the smokers, low to moderate nicotine dependence in 12% (95% CI: 07% – 18%), moderate nicotine dependence in 13% (95% CI: 08%-20%) and high dependence in 11% (95% CI: 06% – 17%) of smokers.
Conclusion: Two third of the adult male OPD attendees were consuming alcohol and one third were smokers. Opportunistic screening for these substance abuses in the OPD of the health care setting identified the people who needed appropriate and equitable care.
Key words: Alcohol abuse, Smoking, Substance abuse, tobacco use, Urban India