Table 3

The content of the encounters


Unadjusted descriptive
Age-sex standardised


Variable
Heavy drinkers

Non-heavy drinkers
Heavy drinkers

Non-heavy drinkers








Rate per 100 encounters (n = 5,753)
95% CI

Rate per 100 encounters (n = 73,221)
95% CI
Rate per 100 encounters(a) (n = 5,756)
95% CI

Rate per 100 encounters (n = 73,152)
95% CI


Reasons for encounter
150.0
147.7–152.2

155.7
154.5–156.9
156.60
152.7–160.4
--
155.0
153.8–156.2
Problems managed
151.1
148.6–153.6

155.5
154.1–156.9
160.6
156.3–164.9

154.1
152.7–155.5
     New problem
58.8
56.7–60.9

53.9
53.1–54.8
56.4
53.2–59.6
--
54.2
53.3–55.1
     Work related
2.6
2.1–3.1

1.3
1.1–1.5
1.6
1.2–2.0
--
1.4
1.2–1.6
Chronic problems
52.0
49.7–54.3

56.6
55.4–57.7
62.0
57.3–66.6

55.3
54.2–56.5


Treatment type
Rate per 100 problems (n = 8,694)
95% CI

Rate per 100 problems (n = 113,885)
95% CI
Rate per 100 problems (n = 9,245)
95% CI

Rate per 100 problems (n = 112,735)
95% CI


Medications
67.5
65.4–69.5
--
68.0
67.1–69.0
70.7
66.8–74.5
--
68.1
67.1–68.0
     Prescribed
55.9
53.8–57.9
--
57.4
56.3–58.4
58.1
55.5–62.8
--
57.2
56.2–58.2
     Advised OTC
5.4
4.8–6.0
--
5.2
5.0–5.5
4.7
3.9–5.6
--
5.4
5.1–5.6
     GP-supplied
6.2
5.2–7.2
--
5.4
4.9–5.9
6.8
4.8–8.8
--
5.5
5.0–6.0
Clinical treatment
33.5
31.9–35.2

26.8
25.9–27.6
32.1
30.0–34.2

27.2
26.3–28.1
     Counselling – alcohol*
5.7
5.0–6.4

0.2
0.2–0.3
5.8
4.7–6.9

0.2
0.2–0.3
     Counselling – psychological*
5.0
4.3–5.6

4.0
3.7–4.3
5.6
4.5–6.6

4.0
3.7–4.3
Counsell/advice – smoking*
2.3
1.9–2.7

0.9
0.8–1.0
2.2
1.6–2.7

0.9
0.8–1.0
Procedural treatment
11.4
10.5–12.3
--
11.0
10.6–11.4
10.4
9.1–11.8
--
10.9
10.5–11.3
Referrals
8.6
7.9–9.2
--
8.0
7.7–8.2
7.7
6.7–8.7
--
8.0
7.8–8.2
Specialist
5.3
4.8–5.8
--
5.4
5.2–5.6
5.0
4.2–5.9
--
5.4
5.3–5.6
Allied health services
2.4
2.1–2.7
--
2.0
1.8–2.1
1.9
1.4–2.4
--
2.0
1.9–2.1
Emergency department
0.1
0.0–0.2
--
0.1
0.1–0.1
0.1
0.0–0.1
--
0.1
0.1–0.1
Hospital
0.4
0.3–0.6
--
0.3
0.3–0.3
0.5
0.3–0.7
--
0.3
0.3–0.3
Pathology
26.0
24.0–28.0
--
25.7
24.9–26.4
27.7
24.5–30.9
--
25.8
25.0–26.5
Imaging
6.6
5.9–7.3
--
6.0
5.8–6.2
6.2
4.9–7.4
--
6.1
5.9–6.3

Note: CI – confidence interval; work-related – in the opinion of the GP the problem is likely to be work related; new problem – first consultation by this patient for this problem with any medical practitioner.

↑ Significantly higher at encounters with heavy drinkers than at those with non-heavy drinkers

↓ Significantly lower at encounters with heavy drinkers than at those with non-heavy drinkers

-- No significant difference between the groups

Proude et al. BMC Family Practice 2006 7:17   doi:10.1186/1471-2296-7-17