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Aims: To investigate the alcohol preventive activity in Swedish Occupational health services (OHS) and Primary health care (PHC) in relation to education in handling risky drinking, perceived skills in achieving change in patients’ alcohol habits, and knowledge in alcohol issues among the physicians and nurses in these two settings. Design and Methods: All Swedish physicians and nurses in OHS and PHC having the authority to issue prescriptions were surveyed with a postal questionnaire. The questionnaire was returned by 313 OHS physicians (response rate 54%), 759 OHS nurses (69%), 1821 PHC physicians (47%), and 3125 PHC nurses (55%). Regression analyses were used to assess the independent and interacting effects of skills, knowledge, education, sex, age, and years in practice, patient encounters per week, and location of unit. Results: OHS professionals were more active in initiating discussions about alcohol with their patients than their colleagues in PHC. OHS professionals considered themselves more skilful and knowledgeable than PHC professionals. OHS nurses and PHC physicians were the professional categories that had received most education in handling risky drinking. Skills were positively associated with activity for all categories except OHS physicians. Knowledge and education were positively associated with activity for all categories except OHS nurses. Conclusions: OHS professionals were more active than the PHC professionals in addressing alcohol issues with their patients. Education, knowledge, and skills were positively associated with activity for most professional categories in the two settings.

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