Pathways to care in alcohol use disorders: A cross-sectional study from a tertiary hospital in South India

• Published in: Journal of ethnicity in substance abuse Vol. ahead-of-print; no. ahead-of-print; pp. 1 - 14
• Main Authors: Somashekar, Vidyashree Manibettu, John, Soyuz, Praharaj, Samir Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 17-03-2023
• Subjects: Alcohol use disorder; pathway to care; treatment-seeking; treatment-seeking; pathway to care; Alcohol use disorder
• ISSN: 1533-2640; 1533-2659
• DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2023.2189197

The study examined the pathway patients with alcohol use disorders followed to access tertiary care psychiatry services. We assessed 110 patients and one family member for each patient who sought psychiatry care for alcohol-related problems for the first time using the WHO encounter form. Only 5.5% of patients followed a direct pathway. The rest reached the tertiary hospital after third, fourth, and fifth encounters with other service providers such as traditional and faith healers, medical practitioners, and general hospitals. Although the family decided to seek the first consultation, medical professionals played a pivotal role in referring patients to psychiatry care.