Mental health and alcohol and other drug training for emergency department workers: One solution to help manage increasing demand

Abstract

The course has led to staff feeling more confident and competent to help mental health or drug/alcohol patients who attend the ED.

Attitudes and beliefs of emergency department staff regarding alcohol-related presentations

“…These findings are consistent with the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being which found that, among people diagnosed with an alcohol-use disorder, 48% of females and 34% of males had a co-morbid mental health problem (Teesson et al, 2000). Few studies have focused on the implications of integrating drug and alcohol and mental health treatment in the ED setting (King et al, 2004;Curran et al, 2003). It is likely that few generalist staff would feel that they have the skills necessary to adequately manage these complex presentations.…”

Understanding alcohol misuse and comorbid psychiatric disorders

“…Emergency department staff deal with many of the acute presentations of patients with alcohol and psychiatric disorders. In one study [31], a training course covering these areas was able to convey knowledge and skills which were judged by the participants to have been retained and integrated into practise at post-course follow-up interviews.…”

Alcohol education and training in pre-registration nursing: A national survey to determine curriculum content in the United Kingdom (UK)

“…Evaluations have been undertaken with non-specialist health and social care workers (Gorman et al 1990), psychiatric nurses (Hagemaster et al 1993), General Practitioners (Anderson et al 2004) and emergency department staff (King et al 2004). The literature presented will focus on pre-registration nurses where, despite small sample sizes and methodological weaknesses in most studies, positive effects have been In a response to alcohol abuse amongst teenagers in Australia, Willsher (2010) developed a health promotion strategy on alcohol consumption taught to 2 nd year undergraduate nursing students.…”