Alcohol and Alcoholism, Vol 34, 55-58, Copyright © 1999 by Medical Council on Alcoholism
R Shepherd, M London and G Alexander
This paper describes a 1-year follow-up study examining whether hospital
ward doctors and nurses continue to take quantitative alcohol histories and
provide brief intervention to problem drinkers on general medical wards
after the introduction of a simple protocol. Regular training in the use of
this protocol was stipulated in the annual service contract between the
Health Authority and the Hospital Trusts. Improvements in staff practice
persisted at 1-year follow-up, although it fell from a peak at an earlier
phase of the study. The positive role of state purchasers of health
services in sustaining improvements in clinical practice is discussed.
ARTICLES
Enhancing the identification of excessive drinkers on medical wards: a 1-year follow-up study
Drug and Alcohol Service, Mill House, Brookfields Hospital, Cambridge CB1 3DF, UK; Department of Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK; Corresponding author
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