Training Medical Providers to Conduct Alcohol Screening and Brief Interventions

Abstract

Although progress has been made in developing a scientific basis for alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI), training packages are necessary for its widespread dissemination in primary care settings. This paper evaluates a training package developed for the Cutting Back ® SBI program. Three groups of medical personnel were compared before and after SBI training: physicians (n = 44), medical students (n = 88), and non-physicians (n = 41). Although the training effects were at times dependent on group membership, all changes were in a direction more conducive to implementing SBI. Physicians and medical students increased confidence in performing screening procedures, and students increased self-confidence in conducting brief interventions. Non-physicians perceived fewer obstacles to screening patients after training. Trained providers reported conducting significantly more SBIs than untrained providers, and these differences were consistent with patients' reports of their providers' clinical activity. Thus, when delivered in the context of a comprehensive SBI implementation program, this training is effective in changing providers' knowledge, attitudes, and practice of SBI for at-risk drinking.

Effectiveness of strategies to implement brief alcohol intervention in primary healthcare

“…The ''discussion'' section of the studies provided further information regarding the study findings and the conclusions of the authors. [34,37], two in Sweden [32,35], and one each in Finland [36], Denmark [33], and the USA [39].…”

“…Six studies [29,31,32,35,36,39] were conducted at the practice level. Two studies [32,36] included all PHC providers.…”

“…Two studies [38,39] assessed the effectiveness of one implementation strategy using a control group strategy, while five studies [30,31,33,34,37] compared the effectiveness of two or three implementation strategies. Two of the studies [32,39] involved comparisons of personnel categories.…”

“…Two of the studies [32,39] involved comparisons of personnel categories. Three studies [29,35,36] compared neither strategies nor personnel categories.…”

Antisocial behavior and alcohol consumption by school adolescents

“…The present study has a descriptive and , and a history of the use and dependence of alcohol for adolescents (10) .…”