Who in the primary health care team can tackle alcohol misuse?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare, for the first time, the attitudes and role of general practitioners and practice nurses towards patients who misuse alcohol. Postal surveys of all GPs and practice nurses in a health authority area outside London were undertaken. Four mailings resulted in response rates of 50.5% and 50.6% for the 264 GPs and 196 practice nurses, respectively. Data collected consisted of replies to 12 attitude statements along a five-point Likert scale, from'strongly agree’, through ‘uncertain’, to ‘strongly disagree'. Respondents mostly perceived the alcohol misuser negatively, whilst simultaneously acknowledging the appropriateness of the primary care setting for treating the misuser. An explanation for this paradox appears to lie in the lack of training and specialist support available to these professional groups. This study indicates that, although primary care staff are willing to work with patients who misuse alcohol, they do not feel sufficiently trained and supported to do so. Two possible solutions to providing better primary care service for alcohol-misusing patients are: (I) appropriate training for the primary care team; and (2) the provision of support for the team from specialist services.