Barriers to healthcare utilization among adults engaging in heavy drinking: Results from the All of Us research program.

Abstract

We examined sociodemographic factors associated with barriers to healthcare utilization (HCU) among a national sample of adults engaging in heavy drinking behavior (HDB). A sample of 3257 participants from the All of Us program (2018-2022 Controlled Tier Dataset-v7) who reported HDB (i.e., six or more drinks on one occasion, at least weekly) was selected to examine the associations between socio-demographic factors and barriers to HCU (i.e., structural, competing social roles, attitudinal, and financial barriers). Multiple logistic regressions estimated adjusted Odds Ratios (aOR) for the associations of interest. Financial barriers (23.64 %) were the most common of the four barriers, followed by attitudinal (18.27 %), competing social roles (15.66 %), and structural (13.36 %) barriers. Females were more likely than males to report competing social roles (or = 1.56, 95 %CI = 1.28,1.90), attitudinal (aOR = 1.41, 95 %CI = 1.17,1.70), and financial (or = 1.41, 95 %CI = 1.19,1.68) barriers. Lower income (aOR = 6.71, 95 %CI = 4.77,9.56), and Non-Hispanic Black/African Americans (aOR = 1.39, 95 %CI = 1.04,1.85) showed higher odds of reporting structural barriers. As many as one in four individuals who engage in HDB experience at least one HCU barrier, particularly women, those with low-incomes, and Non-Hispanic Black/African Americans. The findings highlight the need for implementation of evidence-based strategies among the identified populations to reduce HCU barriers, and ultimately, alcohol-related disparities.