Substance abuse intervention for health care workers: a preliminary report

The effectiveness of workplace interventions for the prevention of alcohol use: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Previous research has pointed to the potential of workplace interventions addressing alcohol consumption. However, there is still no systematic overview of the effects of these interventions. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the effectiveness of workplace interventions addressing alcohol use by conducting a meta-analysis.

METHODS

A systematic literature search for randomized controlled trials of workplace alcohol interventions published between 1995 and 2020 was conducted in five databases. Studies were included if they were performed in the workplace and reported universal or selective interventions aiming for alcohol use reduction. Primary outcomes were any measures of alcohol use. Standardized mean effect sizes were used to calculate the meta-analytic random-effects-model. Additional analyses were carried out to identify potential moderators and to examine the amount of heterogeneity and publication bias.

RESULTS

Twenty studies with 4484 participants were integrated into the meta-analysis. Results revealed a significant overall mean effect indicating a reduction of alcohol use in favor of the treatment group (d = -0.16, 95% CI = [-0.2715; -0.0511]). Heterogeneity within the data structure was found to be moderate to substantial (I2  = 75.9%, Q-test P < 0.001, τ2 = 0.0375). Additional moderator analyses only showed a significant effect for length of measurement period (P = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol-related prevention programs conducted in the workplace have a statistically significant and favorable effect on alcohol consumption. Although the overall mean effect is considered to be small, it underlines the effectiveness of workplace interventions targeting a reduction in alcohol use.

A pilot study of an interactive web site in the workplace for reducing alcohol consumption

An interactive web-site-based intervention for reducing alcohol consumption was pilot tested. Participants were 145 employees of a work site in the Silicon Valley region of California, categorized as low or moderate risk for alcohol problems. All participants were given access to a web site that provided feedback on their levels of stress and use of coping strategies. Participants randomized to the full individualized feedback condition also received individualized feedback about their risk for alcohol-related problems. Some evidence was found for greater alcohol reduction among participants who received full individualized feedback, although due to difficulties in recruiting participants, the sample size was inadequate for evaluating treatment effects on drinking. The results provide preliminary support for using an interactive web site to provide individualized feedback for persons at risk for alcohol problems. However, the low participation rate (2.7%) suggests that such an intervention must address the challenges of recruiting employees through their work site.

Mailed feedback reduces consumption among moderate drinkers who are employed

To test the efficacy of mailed feedback for drinking reduction among employees of a manufacturing firm, 48 drinkers were recruited and alternately assigned to receive mailed feedback on their drinking either immediately or after an 8-week waiting period. Using a delayed treatment design, participants were assessed by mail at baseline, 8, and 16 weeks. After viewing their feedback, participants indicated a higher level of importance of making a change, but not confidence in their ability. There were also significant decreases in consumption after receiving the feedback, and these changes were mediated by participants' increased perceptions regarding the "riskiness" of alcohol consumption. An additional 26 nondrinkers at baseline volunteered to participate and also were mailed feedback. Among this group, receipt of feedback indicating a very low level of risk did not lead to increased drinking. This cost-effective intervention appears to reduce consumption among light-to-moderate drinkers, and may warrant a larger place in the framework of workplace alcohol reduction programs.

The role of occupational stress in the maladaptive use of alcohol by dentists: a study of South Australian general dental practitioners

BACKGROUND

It is well recognized that dentistry is a stressful profession. However, there are conflicting views about the extent to which such stress contributes to hazardous drinking among dentists. In addition, the relative contributions of stress and pre-existing vulnerability in predicting alcohol problems among dentists generally (and Australian dentists in particular) have yet to be determined.

METHODS

The levels of stress and alcohol consumption of 312 South Australian dentists were measured. Factors known to mediate vulnerability to alcohol disorders were also assessed with appropriate psychometric instruments.

RESULTS

High levels of stress/burnout, consistent with other studies of dentists' stress, were recorded. Hazardous levels of alcohol consumption, which were between two and four times higher than the normative South Australian population, were also reported, particularly among males and rural dentists.

CONCLUSIONS

To a significant extent, stress and hazardous alcohol consumption are both present among South Australian dentists. However, compared with work stress/burnout, existing personal vulnerability factors are much stronger predictors of such hazardous alcohol consumption. We suggest that professional dental bodies, and state Dental Boards, may play a role in ensuring stress inoculation and guidance on safe limits of alcohol consumption for dentists-in-training; and in creating appropriate mechanisms for assisting dentists who experience alcohol related difficulties.