8 February 2018

Researchers:

Kate Halliday SMMGP Interim Executive Director

Dr Steve Brinksman SMMGP Clinical Director

Key findings

• The findings of this project suggest that providing a relatively low level of support to nurse mentors based in primary care leads to a significant increase in the delivery of IBA.
  
  
• There was a marked increase in the percentage of patients screening positive at an initial screening test going on to receive IBA from 30% at the beginning of the project to 48% at the end.
  
  
• There was a modest increase in the percentage of patients who received an initial screen being assessed as requiring a brief intervention from 13% at the beginning of the project to 15% at the end indicating that clinicians were identifying increasing or higher risk drinkers more effectively.
  
  
• Following the implementation of the project staff at the surgery appear to be more effective at identifying alcohol-related harm and at providing brief interventions to this group.
  
  
• This project indicates that by supporting nurse mentors in leading on the implementation of IBA there is potential for reducing alcohol- related harm within the existing resources of the surgery. This could support primary care in the practical implementation of an evidence based cost effective intervention which has experienced patchy uptake.

For more information click here. 

Download the Executive Summary.

Download the Final Report.