Detection and management of alcohol misuse by general practitioners.

Detection and management of alcohol misuse by general practitioners

I read the article on “Detection and management of alcohol misuse by general practitioners” [1] with concern. The impact of socially unacceptable behavioural patterns on family health and well being following substance misuse, particularly alcohol, is immense, and could impair happiness [2]. Another important aspect is that many people are reluctant to seek help for alcohol misuse as a result o...

A review of guidelines for collaboration in substance misuse management.

BACKGROUND Substance misuse among the working population results in increasing economic costs. General practitioners (GPs) and occupational physicians (OPs) can play a central role in detecting and managing substance misuse in the working population. Their collaboration could be critical in coordinating care, in facilitating rehabilitation and in reducing sickness absence. AIMS To search guid...

General practice nurses' knowledge of alcohol use and misuse: a questionnaire survey.

Nurses in general practice (termed practice nurses) are an under-utilized resource for the detection and management of patients with alcohol misuse. However, little is known about their knowledge and attitudes towards alcohol use and misuse. We therefore conducted a postal questionnaire survey of 132 practice nurses in Liverpool (UK). The results of our survey (response rate 77%) show that a kn...

Managing older people's alcohol misuse in primary care.

Tackling alcohol misuse: opportunities and obstacles in primary care.

Alcohol misuse is a major public health issue. Primary care has been recognized as an ideal setting for the health promotional activity needed to reduce the general population's alcohol consumption. This paper explores the background to the current belief that primary care is suitable for this work by examining the evidence of the potentially successful interventions the general practitioner (G...