Alcohol abuse management in primary care: an e-learning course.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Medical Education
• Digital Health

Background:

• A significant mental health knowledge gap exists in public health.
• The Alcohol Abuse Management in Primary Care (AAMPC) is an e-learning course addressing alcohol-related problems in primary care settings.
• This study aimed to assess the AAMPC's effectiveness in enhancing healthcare professionals' knowledge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the AAMPC e-learning course on healthcare professionals' knowledge of alcohol-related problems.
• To determine if the course improved understanding of critical clinical management aspects.
• To identify any reduction in misconceptions regarding alcohol-related issues.

Main Methods:

• 100 subscriptions to the AAMPC course were distributed via a federal telehealth program.
• The instructor-led, nine-week course offered synchronous and asynchronous learning with diverse tools.
• Pre- and post-course tests measured knowledge (positive score) and misconceptions (negative score) 2 months after completion.

Main Results:

• Thirty-three participants completed the course; the positive knowledge score significantly improved (p<0.001).
• The negative score (misconceptions) did not show significant improvement.
• Prior e-course experience correlated with greater positive score improvement (p=0.036); 80% found the course met objectives.

Conclusions:

• The AAMPC e-learning course effectively transmitted and retained knowledge on alcohol-related problems.
• E-learning was highly appreciated, particularly by those less familiar with internet access.
• Further strategies are needed to address and reduce misconceptions among primary care staff.