Attitudes and beliefs of emergency department staff regarding alcohol-related presentations.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined emergency department (ED) staff attitudes and beliefs about alcohol-related ED presentations in order to recommend improved detection and brief intervention strategies.


METHODS
The survey was conducted at two inner-Sydney hospital EDs in 2006 to explore ED clinical staff's attitudes, current practice and barriers for managing alcohol-related ED presentations. The sample included N=78 ED staff (54% nurses, 46% doctors), representing a 30% response rate.


RESULTS
Management of alcohol-related problems was not routine among ED staff, with only 5% usually formally screening for alcohol problems, only 16% usually conducting brief interventions, and only 27% usually providing a referral to specialist treatment services. Over 85% of ED staff indicated that lack of patient motivation made providing alcohol interventions very difficult. Significant predictors of good self-reported practice among ED staff for patients with alcohol problems included: being a doctor, being confident and having a sense of responsibility towards managing patients with alcohol-related problems.


CONCLUSIONS
This study reported that many staff lack the confidence or sense of clinical responsibility to fully and appropriately manage ED patients with alcohol-related problems. ED staff appear to require additional training, resources and support to enhance their management of patients with alcohol-related problems.
Indig
Devon
D
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, 22-32 King Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia. devon.indig@justicehealth.nsw.gov.au
Copeland
Jan
J
Conigrave
Katherine M
KM
Rotenko
Irene
I
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019985:Benchmarking; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D024382:Professional Role / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection