Home > Exploring healthcare professionals experience and attitudes towards screening for and treatment of problem alcohol use among drug users attending primary care.

Field, Catherine-Anne, Klimas, Jan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5179-0052, Barry, Joseph, Bury, Gerard, Keenan, Eamon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3395-3831, Lyons, Suzi ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4635-6673, Smyth, Bobby P ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3797-5541 and Cullen, Walter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1838-5052 (2011) Exploring healthcare professionals experience and attitudes towards screening for and treatment of problem alcohol use among drug users attending primary care. In: ADEGS/AUDGPI Scientific Meeting (Annual Conference of University Departments of General Practice in Ireland), Thursday 20th & Friday 21st January 2011.

External website: http://researchrepository.ucd.ie/handle/10197/3472

Problem alcohol use (PAU) is common among drug users (DUs) prevalence rates vary from 13-76%, in a recent Irish study of patients on methadone 35% had an AUDIT score indicating PAU. PAU is associated with adverse health outcomes including physical, psychological and social implications. Despite the crucial role of primary care in screening and treatment for problematic alcohol use and the importance of a stepped approach to alcohol treatment, supported by the evidence, little data reporting intervention interventions which address this issue in DUs attending primary care has been reported. This study has examined healthcare professionals’ experience of and attitudes towards screening and treatment for PAU among drug users in primary care. Twelve GPs and practice nurses who were recruited through the central treatment list participated in this study. Qualitative interviews exploring their experiences of and attitudes towards management of PAU in DUs attending primary care were conducted according to a semi structured interview guide.


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