General practice nurses' knowledge of alcohol use and misuse: a questionnaire survey

Nurses in general practice (termed practice nurses) are an under-utilized resource for the detection and management of patients with alcohol misuse. However, little is known about their knowledge and attitudes towards alcohol use and misuse. We therefore conducted a postal questionnaire survey of 132 practice nurses in Liverpool (UK). The results of our survey (response rate 77%) show that a knowledge and skills gap exists in the delivery of effective advice on alcohol-related issues. Indeed, our results suggest that only one in two women and one in three men are receiving correct advice on sensible limits of alcohol consumption, this despite the fact that alcohol histories are taken. Further training was requested by most nurses to develop their screening and health promotion roles, and to become involved in the management of patients with alcohol-related problems in primary care. We suggest practice nurses should be encouraged to become involved in screening for, and management of, alcohol-related problems. However, it is important to ensure that the nurses receive appropriate training and have adequate back-up facilities from doctors and other workers involved in the care of patients with alcohol-related problems.