A mixed-methods evaluation of an intervention for enhancing alcohol screening in adults aged 50+ attending primary health care

Simple item page
dc.citation.issue2
dc.citation.volume17
dc.contributor.authorTowers A
dc.contributor.authorNewcombe D
dc.contributor.authorWhite G
dc.contributor.authorMcMenamin J
dc.contributor.authorSheridan J
dc.contributor.authorRahman J
dc.contributor.authorMoore A
dc.contributor.editorStokes T
dc.date.accessioned2025-07-21T03:11:32Z
dc.date.available2025-07-21T03:11:32Z
dc.date.issued2025-01-02
dc.description.abstractIntroduction 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+.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.format.pagination167-175
dc.identifier.citationTowers A, Newcombe D, White G, McMenamin J, Sheridan J, Rahman J, Moore A. (2025). A mixed-methods evaluation of an intervention for enhancing alcohol screening in adults aged 50+ attending primary health care. Journal of Primary Health Care. 17. 2. (pp. 167-175).
dc.identifier.doi10.1071/HC24061
dc.identifier.eissn1172-6156
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/73220
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherCSIRO Publishing on behalf of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.publish.csiro.au/HC/HC24061
dc.relation.isPartOfJournal of Primary Health Care
dc.rights(c) 2025 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY-NC-ND 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subjectAgeing
dc.subjectAlcohol
dc.subjectGeneral practitioners
dc.subjectPrimary health care
dc.subjectProfessional education
dc.subjectScreening
dc.titleA mixed-methods evaluation of an intervention for enhancing alcohol screening in adults aged 50+ attending primary health care
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id501592
pubs.organisational-groupOther
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
501592 PDF.pdf
Size:
1.17 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Published version.pdf
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
9.22 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles