Purpose Recording the nature and frequency of implemented diagnostics, brief interventions and treatments in patients with known problematic alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorders by health care professionals. This information helps to estimate the need of the development of strategies for further implementation of the German S3-guideline “screening, diagnosis and treatment of alcohol-related disorders”.
Methods Cross-sectional survey among general practitioners, gynecologists, psychiatrists, child- and adolescent therapists, psychotherapists, social workers and midwives in the model region of Bremen.
Results 34% of patients with known problematic alcohol use received guideline conform diagnostics and 39% a specific brief intervention. Of the patients with diagnosed alcohol-related disorder, 34% got a specific treatment by the questioned health care professional and 37% were referred to treatments elsewhere. Validated diagnostic instruments for alcohol use disorders were rarely used. Brief interventions most often consisted of informal motivational interviewing. Post-acute care mainly included referral to addiction services and mutual help groups and pharmacological relapse prevention was rare.
Conclusion Implementation of structured diagnostics and brief interventions as well as tailored recommendations of pharmacological relapse prevention and ambulatory health services is insufficient. Therefore, they should be subject of strategies for further guideline implementation.