title: Alcohol-related harm: perceptions of ambulance officers and health promotion actions they do and would do.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Health care providers play a pivotal role in preventing and reducing the burden associated with the misuse of alcohol, yet one group whose role in the alcohol offensive has not yet been systematically explored is ambulance officers. This study attempted to firstly, measure the prevalence and type of alcohol-related incidents attended by ambulance officers, and secondly, identify both current practice and perceived role in reducing alcohol-related harms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, descriptive survey of 264 NSW Ambulance Officers was conducted in June and July 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicated that alcohol plays a significant role in the work of ambulance officers with estimates of 20% of all call-outs involving alcohol. Though the majority of officers indicated that they usually or always asked patients whether they have been drinking, far fewer asked about quantity and frequency of alcohol use and only small proportions undertook formal screenings, offered brief advice or referred patients to an appropriate drug and alcohol service.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Officers indicated that they are willing to undertake a number of other actions as part of alcohol-harm reduction efforts, suggesting that many ambulance officers consider health promotion to be integral to the role of an ambulance officer.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health, Discipline of Health Behaviour Sciences, University of Newcastle, New South Wales. Marita.Lynagh@newcastle.edu.au
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lynagh
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanson-Fisher
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shakeshaft
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D024382:Professional Role; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D055815:Young Adult