Facilitators and barriers to intervening for problem alcohol use

This article is a report of a study exploring nurses' perceived facilitators and barriers to conducting brief interventions for problem alcohol use.

Excessive alcohol use has been associated with health, social and legal problems. Healthcare providers worldwide need help to detect and intervene with hazardous/harmful drinkers.

For this cross-sectional study, ten hospitals were randomly selected throughout Taiwan during 2007. Nurses (N = 741) were selected from the emergency department, and psychiatric and gastrointestinal medical-surgical units where most patients with alcohol problems are seen. Data collected using facilitator and barrier scales and a demographic information form were analysed by descriptive statistics and stepwise, multiple linear regression analysis.

Nurses identified the top facilitator to intervening for problem alcohol use as 'patients' drinking problems are related to their illness'. Top barriers were 'patients lack motivation to change' and 'patients express no interest in receiving intervention'. Perceived facilitators were associated with nurses' work unit, intention to intervene for problem alcohol use, and age. Perceived barriers were associated with work unit, experience in intervening for problem alcohol use, and having attended a training course.

Source of perceived barriers reflected cultural influences. Taiwanese nurse education needs to be strengthened in terms of brief interventions for problem alcohol use. Emergency department nurses need to become more aware of their important role in alcohol intervention. Alcohol-related education is needed for the general population and hospital policymakers to enhance facilitators and reduce barriers to intervening for problem alcohol use.