Drugs consumption among Intern Specialists in Jaén (Spain) and their relationship to clinical counseling

: There are few studies on the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs consumption among Specialist Interns (EIR) and their counseling to the patients. A multicenter cross-sectional study is carried out, consisting in a self-administered validated questionnaire to describe the consumption of the EIR of 17 health centers in Jaen (Andalusia) (4 hospitals, 13 primary care) and their relationship with their counseling. 215 EIR participate with 81% of valid questionnaires: mean age 31.2 years (± 0.7), 70% women, 13% foreigners, only 6% nursing. Of them 78% consumed alcohol (onset age 16.8 years ± 0.3), 81% occasionally and 17% weekend. The alcohol average weekly intake was 5.9 (± 5.8) UBE, especially beer and cocktails; 17% show a binge-drinking pattern (more frequent in men, p = .001 x 2). 19% smoke. A total of 71% smoke on a daily bases (mean of 8.9 ± 1.6 cigarettes/day); the nicotine dependence is low (68%) and two thirds have tried to quit. Only 3% use cannabis. A fifth part of EIR does not usually advise against smoking use (21%), a third part does not advise against alcohol (34%) and almost half of them neither advises against drugs (44%) (p = .001 x 2). Logistic regression shows greater clinical advice from older EIR. Advice against drinking alcohol provided by EIR women is more frequent (OR 2.93) and, probably, even more in EIR that binge drink (OR 2.32). Late smoking onset is related to less clinical advice against illegal drugs (OR 0.76).