Health professionals' alcohol-related professional practices and the relationship between their personal alcohol attitudes and behavior and professional practices: a systematic review.

Savita Bakhshi,Alison While

doi:10.3390/ijerph110100218

Abstract

Health professionals’ personal health behaviors have been found to be associated with their practices with patients in areas such as smoking, physical activity and weight management, but little is known in relation to alcohol use. This review has two related strands and aims to: (1) examine health professionals’ alcohol-related health promotion practices; and (2) explore the relationship between health professionals’ personal alcohol attitudes and behaviors, and their professional alcohol-related health promotion practices. A comprehensive literature search of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, British Nursing Index, Web of Science, Scopus and Science Direct (2007–2013) identified 26 studies that met the inclusion criteria for Strand 1, out of which six were analyzed for Strand 2. The findings indicate that health professionals use a range of methods to aid patients who are high-risk alcohol users. Positive associations were reported between health professionals’ alcohol-related health promotion activities and their personal attitudes towards alcohol (n = 2), and their personal alcohol use (n = 2). The findings have some important implications for professional education. Future research should focus on conducting well-designed studies with larger samples to enable us to draw firm conclusions and develop the evidence base.

Highlights

IntroductionThe harmful use of alcohol results in approximately 2.5 million deaths globally each year, with nearly
A limitation of this review is that we found only six studies that investigated the relationship between the health professionals’ personal alcohol attitudes and behaviors, and their professional alcohol-related health promotion practices published between 2007 and 2013, which limits the strength of the empirical evidence and the conclusions that we are able to draw
While there is some evidence of alcohol-related health promotion within the clinical practice of health professionals, the evidence is limited and suggests that there is a need for more health promotion activity if the harmful use of alcohol and its health and social consequences are to be addressed effectively

Summary

Introduction

The harmful use of alcohol results in approximately 2.5 million deaths globally each year, with nearly. 4% of all deaths worldwide attributable to alcohol use across developed and developing nations [1]. Around 6.13 liters of pure alcohol per person (aged 15 years and older) was consumed worldwide in. Alcohol use is the third largest risk factor for around 60 diseases and disabilities, including different cancers, cirrhosis of the liver, cardiovascular diseases and epilepsy [1,2]. Heavy drinkers are at greater risk of conditions such as hypertension, gastrointestinal bleeding, sleep disorders and depression [3]. Alcohol use is associated with poor social outcomes such as relationship breakdown, trauma, violence, child neglect and abuse and workplace absenteeism [1,4]

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