Barriers and facilitators to disclosure of alcohol use

What is it about?

Women may be less likely than men to disclose harmful drinking to primary care providers. The aim of this sub-analysis was to better understand barriers and facilitators that hinder or help women Veterans discuss their alcohol use with primary care providers. We asked 14 primary care providers at two Veterans Administration Women’s Health Clinics about their perspectives on barriers and facilitators to women Veterans’ disclosure of alcohol use during routine clinic visits. Interview data were analyzed deductively using a combination of template analysis and matrix analysis. The most commonly described barriers were stigma, shame and discomfort, and co-occuring mental health concerns. Building strong therapeutic relationships and using probes to “dig deeper” were most often described as facilitators.

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Why is it important?

Findings from this study may enhance provider-patient discussions about alcohol use and help primary care providers to better identify problematic drinking among women Veterans, ultimately improving patient outcomes.