Alcohol prevention within primary care in municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil

Brief interventions for alcohol use disorders in low- and middle-income countries: barriers and potential solutions

Global alcohol consumption and harmful use of alcohol is projected to increase in the coming decades, and most of the increase will occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); which calls for cost-effective measures to reduce alcohol exposure in these countries. One such evidence based measure is screening and brief intervention (BI) for alcohol problems. Some of the characteristics of BI make them a particularly appealing choice of interventions in low-resource settings. However, despite evidence of effectiveness, implementation of BI in LMICs is rare. In this paper we discuss barriers to implementation of BI in LMICs, with examples from Latin America and India. Key barriers to implementation of BI in LMICs are the lack of financial and structural resources. Specialized services for alcohol use disorders are limited or non-existent. Hence primary care is often the only possible alternative to implement BI. However, health professionals in such settings generally lack training to deal with these disorders. In our review of BI research in these countries, we find some promising results, primarily in countries from Latin America, but so far there is limited research on effectiveness. Appropriate evaluation of efficacy and effectiveness of BI is undermined by lack of generalisability and methodological limitations. No systematic and scientific efforts to explore the implementation and evaluation of BI in primary and community platforms of care have been published in India. Innovative strategies need to be deployed to overcome supply side barriers related to specialist manpower shortages in LMICs. There is a growing evidence on the effectiveness of non-specialist health workers, including lay counsellors, in delivering frontline psychological interventions for a range of disorders including alcohol use disorders in LMICs. This paper is intended to stimulate discussion among researchers, practitioners and policy-makers in LMICs because increasing access to evidence based care for alcohol use disorders in LMICs would need a concerted effort from all these stakeholders.

Práticas de Atenção Primária à Saúde na área de drogas: revisão integrativa

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi o de identificar e analisar as práticas voltadas ao consumo prejudicial de drogas na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Trata-se de Revisão integrativa que buscou estudos nas fontes Medline e Lilacs utilizando os termos ‘Atenção Primária à Saúde’ e ‘Redução do Dano’. Como resultado, incluiram-se 52 estudos, analisados de acordo com os arcabouços teóricos que orientam as práticas em saúde. Tais estudos foram sintetizados em três categorias empíricas: comportamento de risco, que incluiu intervenção breve, programas para prevenir e diminuir o uso de drogas, entre outros; fatores determinantes, que incluiu visitas domiciliares, práticas grupais e organizacionais; e necessidades em saúde, que incluiu práticas educativas emancipatórias. Conclui-se que, majoritariamente, os estudos abordam o uso de drogas pela categoria risco, com proposição de práticas para adaptação social. As intervenções relativas aos determinantes promovem a saúde, propondo melhorias em ambientes de vida e trabalho. Práticas críticas às relações sociais estabelecidas pelo complexo das drogas são minoritárias e envolvem complexidade operacional.

Perceived appropriateness of alcohol screening and brief advice programmes in Colombia, Mexico and Peru and barriers to their implementation in primary health care - a cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Providing alcohol screening and brief advice (SBA) in primary health care (PHC) can be an effective measure to reduce alcohol consumption. To aid successful implementation in an upper middle-income country context, this study investigates the perceived appropriateness of the programme and the perceived barriers to its implementation in PHC settings in three Latin American countries: Colombia, Mexico and Peru, as part of larger implementation study (SCALA).

METHODS

An online survey based on the Tailored Implementation for Chronic Diseases (TICD) implementation framework was disseminated in the three countries to key stakeholders with experience in the topic and/or setting (both health professionals and other roles, for example regional health administrators and national experts). In total, 55 respondents participated (66% response rate). For responses to both appropriateness and barriers questions, frequencies were computed, and country comparisons were made using Chi square and Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric tests.

RESULTS

Alcohol SBA was seen as an appropriate programme to reduce heavy alcohol use in PHC and a range of providers were considered suitable for its delivery, such as general practitioners, nurses, psychologists and social workers. Contextual factors such as patients' normalised perception of their heavy drinking, lack of on-going support for providers, difficulty of accessing referral services and lenient alcohol control laws were the highest rated barriers. Country differences were found for two barriers: Peruvian respondents rated SBA guidelines as less clear than Mexican (Mann-Whitney U = -18.10, P = 0.001), and more strongly indicated lack of available screening instruments than Colombian (Mann-Whitney U = -12.82, P = 0.035) and Mexican respondents (Mann-Whitney U = -13.56, P = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

The study shows the need to address contextual factors for successful implementation of SBA in practice. General congruence between the countries suggests that similar approaches can be used to encourage widespread implementation of SBA in all three studied countries, with minor tailoring based on the few country-specific barriers.

Implementation of a screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment programme for risky substance use in South African emergency centres: A mixed methods evaluation study

BACKGROUND

Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for risky substance use is infrequently included in routine healthcare in low-resourced settings. A SBIRT programme, adopted by the Western Cape provincial government within an alcohol harm reduction strategy, employed various implementation strategies executed by a diverse team to translate an evidence-based intervention into services at three demonstration sites before broader programme scale-up. This paper evaluates the implementation of this programme delivered by facility-based counsellors in South African emergency centres.

METHOD

Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, this mixed methods study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness and adoption of this task-shared SBIRT programme. Quantitative data were extracted from routinely collected health information. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 40 stakeholders in the programme's second year.

RESULTS

In the first year, 13 136 patients were screened and 4 847 (37%) patients met criteria for risky substance use. Of these patients, 83% received the intervention, indicating programme feasibility. The programme was adopted into routine services and found to be acceptable and appropriate, particularly by stakeholders familiar with the emergency environment. These stakeholders highlighted the burden of substance-related harm in emergency centres and favourable patient responses to SBIRT. However, some stakeholders expressed scepticism of the behaviour change approach and programme compatibility with emergency centre operations. Furthermore, adoption was both facilitated and hampered by a top-down directive from provincial leadership to implement SBIRT, while rapid implementation limited effective engagement with a diverse stakeholder group.

CONCLUSION

This is one of the first studies to address SBIRT implementation in low-resourced settings. The results show that SBIRT implementation and adoption was largely successful, and provide valuable insights that should be considered prior to implementation scale-up. Recommendations include ensuring ongoing monitoring and evaluation, and early stakeholder engagement to improve implementation readiness and programme compatibility in the emergency setting.

Literature review on the implications of decriminalization for the care of drug users in Portugal and Brazil

INTRODUCTION

Substance use problems remain at the core of public concern in countries sharing a common culture and a distinct history like Brazil and Portugal.

OBJECTIVE

To describe findings of scientific literature about the implications of drug legislation change for the care of drug users in Brazil and Portugal.

METHODS

This is an integrative review of literature that considers inclusion and exclusion criteria, sample selection, analyses and categorization of 21 articles selected that were published in databases PubMed, SciELO and Biblioteca do Conhecimento on-line (B-ON) and included ordinances and laws related to the subject.

RESULTS

We observed that production on the repercussions of changes of legislation on care is scarce. Alcohol and tobacco are still a matter of concern in both countries. In Portugal, concerns about heroin-related issues have declined in recent years, but opioids use prevalence rates remain well above those of Brazil. Crack-related problems are a Brazilian reality without parallel in Portugal. In both cases, some actions are in place to change the policy in favor of a reduced repressive approach, with differentiation between users and drug dealers, increased punishment of dealers and reduced punishment of drug users.

Real-life challenge: training program on drug use and adolescence in primary health care

Guidelines emphasize the importance of approaching substance use by adolescents, particularly in primary health care. However, there are problems with its incorporation. The objective of this study was to present the training stages on the theme for professionals in primary health care. Researchers conducted logistic structuring, content elaboration and evaluation of difficulties before and after training. Sixty percent of professionals involved in the care of adolescents in a medium-sized city participated in the study. More than half of them stated having difficulties in the approach, mainly theoretical limitations and short consultations. After the training, the professionals informed whether they felt more prepared, but practical difficulties remained.

Alcohol use and associated factors among physicians and nurses in northeast Brazil

The consequences of alcohol use are closely related to its pattern of intake. The aim of this study is to analyze the pattern of alcohol use by doctors and nurses. Associated co-factors have also been considered. We calculated a representative sample of doctors and nurses from two hospitals in Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was employed to assess patterns of alcohol consumption. A score ≥8 was defined as alcohol misuse, and an answer to question number 3 > 1 was indicative of heavy episodic drinking (HED). In order to identify factors associated with HED and alcohol misuse, bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed with SPSS v20.0. A sample of 510 professionals was examined and 25% of those were abstainers; among those who had drinks containing alcohol, 86% were classified as low-risk alcohol use, scoring lower than 8, while 10.6% of the whole sample was categorized as alcohol misusers, scoring more than 8. The habit of smoking (OR = 6.02; CI: 1.71-21.16), following the Catholic religion (OR = 3.55; CI: 2.47-8.58), and also gender (OR = 3.09; CI: 1.68-5.71) were independently associated with alcohol misuse. HED was found in 14.3%. Younger age (OR = 0.96; CI: 0.92-0.98), male gender (OR = 5.13; CI: 2.55-10.30), the Catholic religion (OR = 3.22; CI: 1.44-7.21), and smoking habits (OR = 5.25; CI: 1.26-21.75) were associated with HED. Therefore, physicians and nurses have a lesser prevalence of abstainers, similar rates of alcohol misuse, and greater prevalence of HED when compared to the general Brazilian adult population. More studies involving these professionals need to be carried out in other Brazilian states in order to determine whether the results can be understood as widespread throughout the country.

Estimating Service Needs for Alcohol and Other Drug Users According to a Tiered Framework: The Case of the São Paulo, Brazil, Metropolitan Area

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to estimate the need for population-level services for alcohol and other drug abuse in support of local planning.

METHOD

Data were drawn from a subsample of 2,942 interviewees from the São Paulo Megacity Study, which evaluated mental health in the general population (18 years and older) of residents in the São Paulo metropolitan area. This population was classified into five hierarchical categories of severity, making it possible to obtain estimates of need for services, combining evaluation criteria regarding drug and alcohol use and general and mental health comorbidities over the last 12 months. For the at-risk groups in this population, estimates from the Potential Demand for the Use of Services survey interviews over the last year were generated.

RESULTS

Concerning the need for services, 86.5% of the population (Tier 1) had no problems related to drug and alcohol use, 8.9% (Tier 2) used heavily, 3.5% (Tiers 3, 4, and 5) met criteria for substance abuse disorders, among whom 1.3% (Tiers 4 and 5) require more specialized and intensive treatment and support. The following estimates for the Potential Demand for the Use of Services were found: 25.5% (Tier 3) and 51.1% (Tier 4), indicating that a significant number of individuals met criteria for substance abuse disorders but did not perceive any need for professional help or neglected the help available.

CONCLUSIONS

In São Paulo there exists a large sector of the population that requires prevention strategies regarding the risks and harm resulting from alcohol and drug use, followed by a group requiring more specialized care. But a large number of substance users requiring specialized support did not use services and did not believe that they needed professional help.

Effectiveness of brief group intervention in the harmful alcohol use in primary health care

OBJECTIVE

To verify the effectiveness of brief group intervention, performed by nurses, in reducing the hazardous or harmful alcohol use in users of a primary health care service.

METHODS

Clinical and randomized trial with follow-up of three months. The sample had 180 individuals with a pattern of hazardous or harmful alcohol use, recruited in a Basic Health Unit in the city of São Paulo. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (Audit) were applied. The experimental group underwent the Brief Group Intervention, which had four group sessions, with weekly meetings. The control group received an information leaflet about issues related to alcohol consumption. Both groups participated in the follow-up of three months. The linear mixed model was used for data analysis, in which a 5% significance level was adopted.

RESULTS

Forty-four individuals under hazardous or harmful alcohol use completed all phases of the research. The experimental group had a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.01) of about 10 points in Audit score after the brief group intervention [before BGI = 15.89 (SD = 6.62) - hazardous use; after BGI = 6.40 (SD = 5.05) - low hazardous use] maintaining the low hazardous use in follow-up [6.69 (SD = 6.38) - low hazardous use]. The control group had a statistically significant reduction (p ≤ 0.01) of about three points in Audit score [before BGI = 13.11 (SD = 4.54) - hazardous use; after BGI = 9.83 (SD = 5.54) - hazardous use] and in follow-up presented the mean score of 13.00 (SD = 5.70), indicative of hazardous use. Differences between the two groups (experimental group versus control group) in reduction of consumption were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our evidence showed that the brief group intervention performed by the nurse in the primary health care context was effective to reduce alcohol consumption in individuals with patterns of hazardous or harmful use.

Cultural adaptation and content validation of the Single-Question for screening alcohol abuse

ABSTRACT Objective Describing the stages of translation, cultural adaptation and content validation of the Single-Question into Brazilian Portuguese, which will be named Questão Chave. Method This study is a cultural adaptation. The instrument was translated into Portuguese as two independent versions which led to a synthesis of translations (S1), and later to the synthesis S2, which was then submitted to evaluation by a Committee of Expert Judges in the area of alcohol use and instrument validation. The Content Validity Index and Kappa agreement coefficient were calculated from this evaluation. Results The judges evaluated the Questão Chave regarding the clarity of the sentence and aspects related to the quality of the translation (cultural adaptation, preservation of original meaning and correct use of technical terms). The Content Validity Index was 1 for clarity of sentence and correct use of technical terms, and 0.8 for adaptation and preservation of the original meaning. The Kappa index for concordance among the judges was 0.83. After an adjustment proposed by the judges, the S3 version was originated. Conclusion The Questão Chave had its content validity confirmed, which supports future studies that aim for its application in the target population to verify their psychometric properties.

Rethinking alcohol interventions in health care: a thematic meeting of the International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol & Other Drugs (INEBRIA)

In 2016, the International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol & Other Drugs convened a meeting titled “Rethinking alcohol interventions in health care”. The aims of the meeting were to synthesize recent evidence about screening and brief intervention and to set directions for research, practice, and policy in light of this evidence. Screening and brief intervention is efficacious in reducing self-reported alcohol consumption for some with unhealthy alcohol use, but there are gaps in evidence for its effectiveness. Because screening and brief intervention is not known to be efficacious for individuals with more severe unhealthy alcohol use, recent data showing the lack of evidence for referral to treatment as part of screening and brief intervention are alarming. While screening and brief intervention was designed to be a population-based approach, its reach is limited. Implementation in real world care also remains a challenge. This report summarizes practice, research, and policy recommendations and key research developments from our meeting. In order to move the field forward, a research agenda was proposed to (1) address evidence gaps in screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment, (2) develop innovations to address severe unhealthy alcohol use within primary care, (3) describe the stigma of unhealthy alcohol use, which obstructs progress in prevention and treatment, (4) reconsider existing conceptualizations of unhealthy alcohol use that may influence health care, and (5) identify efforts needed to improve the capacity for addressing unhealthy alcohol consumption in all world regions.

Acculturation and Drug Use Stigma Among Latinos and African Americans: An Examination of a Church-Based Sample

Substance use patterns among Latinos likely reflect changes in attitudes resulting from acculturation, but little is known about Latinos' attitudes regarding drug addiction. We surveyed a church-based sample of Latinos and African Americans (N = 1,235) about attitudes toward drug addiction and socio-demographics. Linear regression models compared Latino subgroups with African-Americans. In adjusted models, Latinos had significantly higher drug addiction stigma scores compared to African Americans across all subgroups (US-born Latinos, β = 0.22, p < .05; foreign-born Latinos with high English proficiency, β = 0.30, p < .05; and foreign-born Latinos with low English proficiency, β = 0.49, p < .001). Additionally, Latinos with low English proficiency had significantly higher mean levels of drug use stigma compared Latinos with high proficiency (both foreign-born and US-born). In this church-affiliated sample, Latinos' drug addiction stigma decreases with acculturation, but remains higher among the most acculturated Latinos compared to African-Americans. These attitudes may pose a barrier to treatment for Latino drug users.

Unravelling the skein of care networks on drugs: a narrative review of the literature

Heated debates on given models of treatment for drug users have raged in the halls of academia, in public policies, not to mention in the media. The care network on drugs is presented in this context as an important mechanism for users, but its construction turns out to be a challenge. Therefore, a critical analysis and narrative review of the scientific literature on the care network on drugs was conducted, seeking to pinpoint the challenges and opportunities for its consolidation. The results found include: a) a lack of specific studies on the care network on drugs; b) insufficient and disjointed coverage regarding the demand for treatment; c) the need to rethink the role of the Psychosocial Care Centers for Alcohol and other Drugs, seeking to strengthen, expand, structurally improve and readjust their practices; d) lack of critical analysis about the construction process of care models on drugs in public services; and e) the State's responsibility to provide better alternatives to the existing panorama revealed, making progress on strengthening intersectorial actions, structuring care and improving working conditions.

Percepções e Práticas dos Profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde na Abordagem sobre Drogas

RESUMO Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar as percepções dos profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) em relação às práticas de prevenção e à abordagem ao usuário de álcool e outras drogas, levantando desafios e possibilidades da APS. Através de grupos focais, participaram 18 profissionais da APS de um município de pequeno/médio porte do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Os resultados sugerem que há um discurso a favor das práticas preventivas, mas enfoque no curativismo; limitada participação dos usuários nas atividades preventivas; dificuldade na abordagem aos usuários de drogas; sobrecarga de trabalho; ausência de engajamento dos médicos; cobertura assistencial insuficiente; falta de suporte da gestão, entre outros fatores que obstaculizam o desenvolvimento das ações preventivas e interferem na abordagem aos usuários de drogas.

Patterns of domestic violence and alcohol consumption among women and the effectiveness of a brief intervention in a household setting: a protocol study

BACKGROUND

Domestic violence and harmful alcohol consumption are considered major public health problems worldwide. These phenomena often co-occur, and they share several risk factors. Nevertheless, few in-depth studies have supported integrated interventions for both phenomena, in particular among Latin American women. This project will study the consumption of alcoholic beverages among women and its relationship with patterns of domestic violence; furthermore, it will assess the effect of a brief intervention (BI) aimed at modifying these behaviors using a community household sample.

METHODS/DESIGN

This project is divided into two studies. Study 1 will employ a cross-sectional observational design and will be conducted using a household sample of adult women (approximate sample size = 1600) to assess harmful alcohol consumption and domestic violence patterns. Study 2, will be a randomized clinical trial based on specific cases from Study 1, assessing the effect of a brief intervention on women who exhibit harmful levels of alcohol consumption (AUDIT ≥ 8). Approximately 73 women will be assigned to one of two groups, either a treated group (TG) or a control group (CG). A sociodemographic questionnaire, a questionnaire concerning general health and substance use, and four other standardized instruments (i.e., the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test [AUDIT; used to investigate problems related to alcohol consumption], the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CES-D; used to measure depressive symptoms], and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales and Parent-child Conflict Tactics Scales [CTS2 and CTSPC; used to obtain information on violence among couples and between parents and children, respectively]) will be used to collect data.

DISCUSSION

The study protocol will employ a household survey of a representative sample from a neighborhood in a middle income country, where well-conducted household surveys remain rare. The present work represents a step toward a better understanding of violence in women's lives and its interaction with alcohol consumption and expands the discussion on the potential strategies for public health actions seeking to prevent both domestic violence and harmful alcohol consumption.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry: RBR-7rjt4t. Registered 17 October 2013.

Capacitação em álcool e outras drogas para profissionais da saúde e assistência social: relato de experiência

Como alternativa ao panorama deficitário de formação profissional para atuação na área do uso de álcool e outras drogas, e visando à incorporação de mudanças práticas, são criados os Centros Regionais de Referência sobre Drogas (CRRs). Faz-se necessário compreender e refletir sobre o papel dos CRRs nos cenários de formação e atuação sobre a temática. A partir disso, o presente artigo pretende discutir aspectos sobre a capacitação de profissionais do Sistema Único de Saúde e Assistência Social, por meio do relato de experiência de um CRR de Minas Gerais. A implantação do presente CRR possibilitou a qualificação de profissionais em direção a abordagens integrais e reflexivas sobre a temática. Contudo, são necessárias reformulações sobre o seu modelo, com uma posição mais bem definida e atuante dentro das políticas sobre drogas, garantindo continuidade nas ações e auxiliando na reformulação das práticas.

From efficacy to effectiveness and beyond: what next for brief interventions in primary care?

BACKGROUND

Robust evidence supports the effectiveness of screening and brief alcohol interventions in primary healthcare. However, lack of understanding about their "active ingredients" and concerns over the extent to which current approaches remain faithful to their original theoretical roots has led some to demand a cautious approach to future roll-out pending further research. Against this background, this paper provides a timely overview of the development of the brief alcohol intervention evidence base to assess the extent to which it has achieved the four key levels of intervention research: efficacy, effectiveness, implementation, and demonstration.

METHODS

Narrative overview based on (1) the results of a review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the effectiveness of brief alcohol intervention in primary healthcare and (2) synthesis of the findings of key additional primary studies on the improvement and evaluation of brief alcohol intervention implementation in routine primary healthcare.

RESULTS

The brief intervention field seems to constitute an almost perfect example of the evaluation of a complex intervention. Early evaluations of screening and brief intervention approaches included more tightly controlled efficacy trials and have been followed by more pragmatic trials of effectiveness in routine clinical practice. Most recently, attention has shifted to dissemination, implementation, and wider-scale roll-out. However, delivery in routine primary health remains inconsistent, with an identified knowledge gap around how to successfully embed brief alcohol intervention approaches in mainstream care, and as yet unanswered questions concerning what specific intervention component prompt the positive changes in alcohol consumption.

CONCLUSION

Both the efficacy and effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions have been comprehensively demonstrated, and intervention effects seem replicable and stable over time, and across different study contexts. Thus, while unanswered questions remain, given the positive evidence amassed to date, research efforts should maintain a continued focus on promoting sustained implementation of screening and brief alcohol intervention approaches in primary care to ensure that those who might benefit from screening and brief alcohol interventions actually receive such support.

Screening and brief intervention for alcohol and other drug use in primary care: associations between organizational climate and practice

Background

Numerous studies have demonstrated that positive organizational climates contribute to better work performance. Screening and brief intervention (SBI) for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use has the potential to reach a broad population of hazardous drug users but has not yet been widely adopted in Brazil’s health care system. We surveyed 149 primary health care professionals in 30 clinics in Brazil who were trained to conduct SBI among their patients. We prospectively measured how often they delivered SBI to evaluate the association between organizational climate and adoption/performance of SBI.

Methods

Organizational climate was measured by the 2009 Organizational Climate Scale for Health Organizations, a scale validated in Brazil that assesses leadership, professional development, team spirit, relationship with the community, safety, strategy, and remuneration. Performance of SBI was measured prospectively by weekly assessments during the three months following training. We also assessed self-reported SBI and self-efficacy for performing SBI at three months post-training. We used inferential statistics to depict and test for the significance of associations.

Results

Teams with better organizational climates implemented SBI more frequently. Organizational climate factors most closely associated with SBI implementation included professional development and relationship with the community. The dimensions of leadership and remuneration were also significantly associated with SBI.

Conclusions

Organizational climate may influence implementation of SBI and ultimately may affect the ability of organizations to identify and address drug use.

Consumo de bebidas alcoólicas na população adulta Brasileira: características sociodemográficas e tendência

OBJETIVO: Estimar o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas, identificar as características sociodemográficas associadas a este consumo em 2006 e avaliar a tendência de consumo de 2006 a 2009. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados, em 2006, 54.369 adultos residentes nas capitais de estados brasileiros e no Distrito Federal. Considerou-se consumo habitual a ingestão de qualquer quantidade de bebida alcoólica nos últimos 30 dias, e consumo abusivo a ingestão de mais de 5 doses para homens ou mais de 4 doses para mulheres em pelo menos uma ocasião nos últimos 30 dias. RESULTADOS: O consumo habitual de bebidas alcoólicas atingiu 38,1% da população estudada e o de consumo abusivo 16,2%, sendo a frequência dos dois padrões maior em homens do que em mulheres. As variáveis associadas ao consumo de bebidas alcoólicas foram: idade, união conjugal e inserção no mercado de trabalho em ambos os sexos, e cor de pele para mulheres nos dois padrões de consumo; escolaridade associou-se apenas para consumo habitual. CONCLUSÃO: A tendência de consumo abusivo de bebidas alcoólicas é crescente nos dois sexos. Os dados mostram a urgência de políticas públicas nacionais voltadas para a prevenção do consumo excessivo de bebidas alcoólicas, especialmente junto à população mais jovem.

Clima organizacional e atividades de prevenção ao uso de risco de álcool

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a associação entre Clima Organizacional e atividades de prevenção ao consumo de álcool entre 97 profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde. O clima organizacional foi avaliado por meio de escala envolvendo os seguintes fatores: tomada de decisão, caos/stress e comunicação. As atividades de prevenção foram mensuradas a partir do número de Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tests (instrumento de rastreamento) e de intervenções breves realizados no período de 6 meses após a capacitação presencial. Para verificar a existência das associações utilizou-se a correlação não paramétrica de Spearman, com 95% de intervalo de confiança. O número de intervenções breves realizadas relacionou-se com Tomada de Decisão (p=0,337; p=0,001) e Comunicação (p=0,281; p=0,005), enquanto o número de Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tests aplicados associou-se com Tomada de Decisão (p=0,288; p=0,004) e Comunicação (p=0,215; p=0,035). Os resultados sugerem que ambientes com melhor percepção do clima organizacional podem ser facilitadores para a prevenção do uso de álcool na Atenção Primária à Saúde.