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Published VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
A mixed-methods evaluation of an intervention for enhancing alcohol screening in adults aged 50+ attending primary health care
Journal of Primary Health Care, Vol.17(2), pp.167-175
2025
PMID: 40577214
Abstract
Introduction
Adults aged 50 years and over are drinking more than ever but primary health care (PHC) professionals find it challenging to screen them for alcohol-related harm, despite being at greater risk for harm than younger drinkers.
Aim
This intervention aimed to enhance alcohol screening for this cohort by (a) introducing an algorithm in the patient management system to automate detection of alcohol risk in patients and (b) providing training to support health professionals' practice of, knowledge about, and comfort with alcohol screening in this cohort.
Methods
Eleven PHC practices in Aotearoa New Zealand took part in this intervention, including 41 PHC health professionals. Development and integration of the automated alcohol screening process within PHC patient management systems was undertaken in parallel with health professional training approaches.
Results
Screening rates increased substantially at intervention initiation but fell immediately with the onset of the New Zealand COVID-19 national lockdown. Two-thirds of health professionals identified the system screening prompts, over 40% felt this changed their screening practice, and 33% increased their awareness of – and felt more comfortable screening for – alcohol-related risk in those aged 50+.
Discussion
We illustrated an initial increase in alcohol screening rates in those aged 50+ as a result of this intervention, but this increase could not be sustained in part due to COVID-19 disruption. However, health professionals indicated that this intervention helped many change their practice and enhanced their awareness of such risk and comfort in screening for alcohol-related risk in those aged 50+.
Details
- Title
- A mixed-methods evaluation of an intervention for enhancing alcohol screening in adults aged 50+ attending primary health care
- Authors
- Andy Towers (Corresponding Author) - Massey UniversityDavid Newcombe - University of AucklandGillian White - Health and Research CollaborativeJohn McMenamin - Health and Research CollaborativeJanie Sheridan - University of AucklandJuma Rahman - University of AucklandAlison Moore - University of California San Diego
- Publication details
- Journal of Primary Health Care, Vol.17(2), pp.167-175
- Publisher
- CSIRO Publishing
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1071/HC24061
- ISSN
- 1172-6156; 1172-6164
- PMID
- 40577214
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
- Data Availability
- The quantitative data used in this manuscript reflects an audit of existing data in the Patient Management System (PMS). It was anonymised for the purpose of this research and is not publicly available for further analysis. The anonymised qualitative data generated in interviews with health professionals is available on contact with the authorship team.
- Grant note
- This project was funded by the New Zealand Health Promotion Agency and undertaken between 2019 and 2021.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Psychology
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991195440002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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