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. 2019 Mar;17(2):161-163.
doi: 10.1370/afm.2363.

The Practice Gap: National Estimates of Screening and Counseling for Alcohol, Tobacco, and Obesity

Paul R Shafer  1   2 , Amanda Borsky  3 , Quyen Ngo-Metzger  3 , Therese Miller  3 , David Meyers  3
Affiliations

The Practice Gap: National Estimates of Screening and Counseling for Alcohol, Tobacco, and Obesity

Paul R Shafer et al. Ann Fam Med. 2019 Mar.

Abstract

Tobacco use, lack of physical activity and poor diet, and alcohol consumption are leading causes of death in the United States. We estimated screening and counseling rates by using a nationally representative sample of adults aged 35 years and older with a preventive care supplement to the 2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Receipt of the recommended level of services ranged from nearly two-thirds (64.2% for obesity, 61.9% for tobacco use) to less than one-half (41.0% for alcohol misuse). There is significant room for improving care delivery, but primary care practices probably also need additional resources to raise screening and counseling rates.

Keywords: alcohol drinking; counseling; health behavior; obesity; preventive health services; preventive medicine; primary health care; tobacco use.

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