Alcohol health advice — MCCQE Part 1 MCQ

Correct answer: E — Use brief intervention and discuss Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health

Use brief intervention and discuss Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health is best because alcohol reduction can improve BP and reduce cancer/injury risk. Use a United States screening schedule instead of Canadian guidance is suboptimal because MCCQE questions expect Canadian preventive-care guidance; Defer all preventive care until symptoms develop is suboptimal because screening and immunisation aim to prevent disease before symptoms; Order the most invasive test as routine first-line screening is suboptimal because screening should balance benefit, harm and resource use; Screen at every visit regardless of interval or prior results is suboptimal because over-screening causes avoidable false positives and harm. Canadian alcohol guidance now emphasises a continuum of risk.

Reference: Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health 2023