Are Physicians Screening for Multiple Behavioral Risk Behaviors?
The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that primary care physicians screen all their patients for many health risk behaviors, including risky drinking. To ascertain the prevalence of 4 risk factors (i.e., physical inactivity, overweight, cigarette smoking, and risky drinking) and physicians’ screening for related risk behaviors, researchers analyzed data from the 1998 National Health Interview Survey of 16,818 adults who had a routine checkup in the past year. • Most (52%) of the respondents reported having >1 risk factor; 70% reported physical inactivity, 55% overweight, 20% smoking, and 8% risky drinking (average weekly consumption of >14 drinks for men and >9 drinks for women, or >=5 drinks in 1 day on 12 or more occasions). • Twenty-nine percent reported receiving no screening in the past year, 12% reported being screened for 1 risk behavior, and 59% reported being screened for >=2 risk behaviors. Those who were screened were more likely to be asked about physi
