Cardiovascular diseases mortality and alcohol control policy in Lithuania: exploring a possible link

Exploring Lithuanian social workers' attitudes towards individuals with alcohol usage problems

Aim: Social workers are at the front line of helping individuals experiencing alcohol usage, due to their professional duties, ideology and values that underpin it. In Lithuania, where social work still continues to develop in both practice and education, it is crucial to supplement with relevant information to strengthen social work's response to issues with alcohol usage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore social workers' attitudes towards individuals with alcohol usage problems. Methods: In total, 149 Lithuanian social workers completed a web survey that gathered information about education, work experience and workplace, and filled in the Short Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire (SAAPPQ) to measure their attitude towards individuals with alcohol usage problems. Results: The social workers showed a positive attitude towards individuals with alcohol usage problems (mean 35.81 [SD 4.8]). Attitude domain analysis revealed Role Legitimacy (91.3% above the midpoint) to reflect the most positive attitudes and Work Satisfaction (24.2% above the midpoint) to reflect the least positive attitudes. Those with master's degrees scored higher on the total SAAPPQ (t = -2.44, p = 0.016) and its subscales Work Satisfaction (t = -2.52, p = 0.013) and Therapeutic Commitment (t = -2.21, p = 0.029). Having 6-13 years of work experience (mean SAAPPQ = 37.02 [SD 5.11]) was associated with a more positive attitude compared to those with less than 5 years of experience (mean SAAPPQ = 34.08 [SD 3.87]). Conclusion: Although social workers understand their professional responsibility to work with individuals with alcohol usage problems, their dedication to work, motivation and task-specific self-esteem are low. The results also support education, as those with master's degrees showed more positive attitudes. This study further encourages support for social workers just beginning their career, who might report lower attitudes towards individuals with alcohol usage problems.

Unrecorded alcohol consumption in Lithuania: a modelling study for 2000-2021

The aim of the study was to estimate unrecorded alcohol consumption in Lithuania for the period 2000-2021 using an indirect method for modelling consumption based on official consumption data and indicators of alcohol-related harm. Methodology employed for estimating the unrecorded alcohol consumption was proposed by Norström and was based on the country's 2019 European Health Interview Survey and indicators of fully alcohol-attributable mortality. The proportion of unrecorded alcohol consumption was estimated as 8.30% (95% CI 7.7-8.9%) for 2019 in Lithuania. The estimated total (recorded and unrecorded) alcohol per capita consumption among individuals 15 years of age and older in 2019 was 12.2 L of pure alcohol, 1.01 (95% CI 0.94-1.09%) L of which is likely unrecorded. The lowest unrecorded alcohol level was estimated for 2009 and 2014, while 2018 had the highest level (i.e. 9.33% of total alcohol per capita consumption). Unrecorded alcohol consumption in Lithuania is likely to be modest when compared to recorded alcohol consumption, the latter of which still remains a major challenge to public health.

Alcohol-attributable mortality and alcohol control policy in the Baltic Countries and Poland in 2001-2020: an interrupted time-series analysis

BACKGROUND

The Baltic countries-Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia-are characterized by a high rate of fully alcohol-attributable mortality, compared with Poland. Alcohol control policy measures implemented since 2001 in the Baltic countries included a restriction on availability and an increase in excise taxation, among others. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the relationship between alcohol control policy implementation and alcohol-attributable mortality in the Baltic countries and Poland.

METHODS

Alcohol-attributable mortality data for 2001-2020 was defined by codes 100% alcohol-attributable for persons aged 15 years and older in the Baltic countries and Poland. Alcohol control policies implemented between 2001 and 2020 were identified, and their impact on alcohol-attributable mortality was evaluated using an interrupted time-series methodology by employing a generalized additive model.

RESULTS

Alcohol-attributable mortality was significantly higher in the Baltic countries, compared with Poland, for both males and females. In the final reduced model, alcohol control policy significantly reduced male alcohol-attributable mortality by 7.60% in the 12 months post-policy implementation. For females, the alcohol control policy mean-shift effect was higher, resulting in a significant reduction of alcohol-attributable mortality by 10.77% in the 12 months post-policy implementation. The interaction effects of countries and policy tested in the full model were not statistically significant, which indicated that the impact of alcohol control policy on alcohol-attributable mortality did not differ across countries for both males and females.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the findings of the current study, alcohol control policy in the form of reduced availability and increased taxation was associated with a reduction in alcohol-attributable mortality among both males and females.