Implementing brief interventions for alcohol problems in the public health system in the region of
Ribeirao Preto, Brazil: evaluation of the PAI-PAD training model
Engelsk titel: Implementing brief interventions for alcohol problems in the public health system in the region of
Ribeirao Preto, Brazil: evaluation of the PAI-PAD training model
Författare:
Furtado EF
;
Corradi-Webster CM
;
Laprega MR
Email: efurtado@fmrp.usp.br
Språk: Eng
Antal referenser: 23
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 09023114
Sammanfattning
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 774 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 health 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.