[Interactive workshops as a dissemination strategy in psychology].

OBJECTIVE To assess whether interactive workshops are an effective strategy for promoting a psychological intervention model among healthcare providers, to treat problem drinkers. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was conducted between the years 1999 and 2000, among 206 healthcare providers at seven Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (Mexican Institute of Social Security, IMSS) clinics. Study subjects were selected by hospital executive officers. The study design is a quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study. Data on providers' attitudes, interests, and knowledge were collected using a questionnaire. After that, interactive workshops were conducted, and the same questionnaire was applied again at the end of the workshops. Statistical analysis was carried out using Student's t test for matched samples. RESULTS Statistically significant differences were found in participants' knowledge on alcoholism t (206, 205) = -9.234, p = 0.001, as well as in their interest t (206, 205) = -2.318, p = 0.021. CONCLUSIONS Interactive workshops are an effective tool to disseminate the Guided Self-Help Program conducted in IMSS clinics. Healthcare providers can become change-inducing/promoting agents of psychological innovations.