Implementing routine screening and brief alcohol intervention in primary health care: A Delphi survey of expert opinion

Abstract

Aim To obtain a consensus of expert views on how best to implement screening and brief intervention (SBI) for excessive drinkers in a routine and enduring fashion in primary health care throughout England.

Method A Delphi survey of expert opinion in the UK.

Participants Seventy‐nine experts in SBI, of whom 53 (67%) remained in round 3 of the survey. The expert panel included primary health‐care professionals, alcohol‐service workers and researchers/ academics.

Measurements In round 3, 53 panel members (67% of an initial sample of 79) made ratings on a five‐point Likert scale of 157 items developed from responses to open ended questions in round 1 and fed back with group median ratings derived from round 2. Consensus was defined as an interquartile range of ≤1 and attention was mainly directed to items with consensus around median responses of strong agreement or disagreement.

Findings A number of clear conclusions emerged from the survey, including the recommendation of routine screening confined to new patient registrations, general health checks and special types of consultation. The employment of a specialist alcohol worker as a member of the primary health‐care team was strongly supported, but a model of interprofessional cooperation in the delivery of SBI could also be derived from findings. Other conclusions included the importance for the widespread implementation of SBI of a national alcohol strategy.

• Excessive drinking
• screening
• brief intervention
• primary health care
• implementation
• expert consensus