Men and women differ considerably in their drinking patterns. To examine how and why these differences affect use of health services, we propose to study how gender and drinking patterns interact with health behaviors, health-related attitudes, and health/functional status, to affect willingness to use different types of health care services-preventive care, routine outpatient care, emergency care, hospitalizations, and specialty substance abuse and mental health care services. In this prospective study, we will conduct a large survey of adult HMO members (N=15,000), link their responses to health plan records of service use in the year before and the year following the survey, and complete a series of in-depth interviews with a sub-sample (n=150) of survey respondents.
Our aims will be: 1) to determine how gender affects the relationships between drinking patterns, health-related attitudes and behaviors, and health/functional status; 2) to determine how gender affects the joint relationships between drinking patterns, health-related attitudes and behaviors, current health and functional status, and subsequent types and amounts of health care service use; and 3) to explore the underlying reasons and motivations for seeking or avoiding different types of health care services among men and women with different drinking patterns. Results from this study will advance our ability to develop gender-specific screening and intervention procedures that reduce adverse health consequences related to drinking patterns and other health behaviors.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AA013157-03
Application #
6710019
Study Section
Health Services Research Review Subcommittee (AA)
Program Officer
Hough, John F
Project Start
2002-03-01
Project End
2006-02-28
Budget Start
2004-03-01
Budget End
2006-02-28
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$268,016
Indirect Cost
Name
Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
150829349
City
Oakland
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94612
Green, Carla A; Johnson, Kim M; Yarborough, Bobbi Jo H (2014) Seeking, delaying, and avoiding routine health care services: patient perspectives. Am J Health Promot 28:286-93
Polen, Michael R; Green, Carla A; Perrin, Nancy A et al. (2010) Drinking Patterns, Gender and Health I: Attitudes and Health Practices. Addict Res Theory 18:122-142
Green, Carla A; Polen, Michael R; Leo, Michael C et al. (2010) Drinking Patterns, Gender and Health III: Avoiding vs. Seeking Healthcare. Addict Res Theory 18:160-180
Green, Carla A; Polen, Michael R; Leo, Michael C et al. (2010) Drinking Patterns, Gender and Health II: Predictors of Preventive Service Use. Addict Res Theory 18:143-159
Green, Carla A (2006) Gender and use of substance abuse treatment services. Alcohol Res Health 29:55-62