1. Implementing brief interventions for alcohol problems in the public health system in the region of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil: evaluation of the PAI-PAD training model.
- Author
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FURTADO, ERIKSON FELIPE, CORRADI-WEBSTER, CLARISSA MENDONÇA, and LAPREGA, MILTON ROBERTO
- Subjects
DIAGNOSIS of alcoholism ,ALCOHOLISM treatment ,MEDICAL referrals ,MEDICAL personnel training ,PRIMARY health care - Abstract
• INTRODUCTION This paper provides a comprehensive view of the implementation of alcohol, screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) in the primary health care system of the region of Ribeirão Preto, in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, mostly concerning the evaluation of SBIRT training. • METHODS The data were obtained from a community-based study of 776, public primary health care professionals enrolled in an SBIRT training and implementation program in the region of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil from 2003 to 2008. The majority of health professionals who attended the trainings were community health agents (59%) working in the Family Health Program. Physicians, psychologists and nurses also contributed. Data collection was performed using self-report questionnaires, direct interviews, observational, methods and focus groups. • RESULTS There was a statistically significant decrease in health professionals' positive beliefs about alcohol consumption in the post-training period and a significant increase in SBIRT knowledge. Among professional groups, physicians and nurses showed most improvement in their perceived feeling of being "prepared to counsel" patients about risky alcohol use. Qualitative analysis showed an improvement in the level, of awareness of alcohol problems, adoption of a disease model, and an increase in referrals for alcohol treatment. The program was disseminated to a large enough proportion of the health professionals in small, cities to have a significant reach into the general, population of heavy drinkers. • CONCLUSION The training model combined with concurrent supervision and support seem to be effective in the implementation of SBIRT in the routine of health professionals in primary hearth care. This model shows promise as a way to implement alcohol screening and brief intervention as a standard practice in primary health care in large population areas of Brazil. It has been extended to other parts of Brazil and could serve as a model for other Latin-American countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008