Stop completely |
“quit completely because we don’t know what amount, whether it is one glass of wine a month or one glass of wine a day that causes this increased damage.” (GI Physician Interview 1) |
“every doctor that I talked to is totally against it (alcohol). Especially for someone with hepatitis because they said it was a hundred times worse to drink than someone who doesn’t have hepatitis C.” (Patient Interview 260) |
Cut down |
I really can’t say I run into that many difficulties with nonharmful drinkers. I ask them to cut down, or ask them to hold it for a month, a year, or until their treatment is over, or whatever.” (IM physician focus group) |
“my doctor told me that my liver was in such good shape, so just cut down on your drinking.” (Patient Interview 6) |
Occasional drink is ok |
“I actually tell them, sure special occasions, weddings, holidays, things like that, are OK, but not to make it a habit.” (GI Physician Interview 3). |
“One of my doctors says you can drink very moderately. You can have a little wine with your dinner. You can have a beer once in a while. My doctor did tell me that. But I didn’t believe him. I figured abstaining was the best way to go.” (Patient Focus Group 3) |
Mixed/ambiguous messages |
“I tell them that my suggestion is that they become a tea-totaler! That’s usually followed immediately by ‘You mean I can never have a drink?’ So I tell them that’s it’s probably unlikely that it would cause a great deal of harm if they had an occasional drink, like at Christmas, but I can’t swear to that.” (GI Physician Interview 6) |
“Well, after I was diagnosed with hepatitis C, my doctors let me know the consequences of using alcohol. But you know, then again, they told me a glass of wine every now and then with your dinner wouldn’t hurt.” (Patient Focus Group 1) |
Never routinely discussed alcohol |
“If a patient comes in with symptoms or abnormal labs, then it comes up as part of the discussion, but on just a routine basis, talking about cutting down on alcohol or even the adverse effects of alcohol, takes a pretty minimal role.” (IM Physician Focus Group) |
Interviewer: Doctors suggest any changes to lifestyle? Resp: “Just check my blood every 90 days.”Interviewer: “Did doctors or nurses talk to you about drinking alcohol?” Resp: “No” (Patient Interview 151) |