Embedding brief interventions for alcohol in general practice: a study protocol for the REACH Project feasibility trial
Elizabeth Sturgiss,
Nilakshi Gunatillaka,
Lauren Ball,
Tina Lam,
Suzanne Nielsen,
Renee O'Donnell,
Chris Barton,
Helen Skouteris,
Chun Wah Michael Tam,
David Jacka,
Danielle Mazza,
Grant Russell
Affiliations
Elizabeth Sturgiss
Department of General Practice, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Nilakshi Gunatillaka
Department of General Practice, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Lauren Ball
Menzies Health Institute Queensland and School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Tina Lam
Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
Suzanne Nielsen
Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
Renee O'Donnell
Health and Social Care Unit, NHMRC CRE in Health in Preconception and Pregnancy (CRE HiPP), School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Chris Barton
Department of General Practice, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Helen Skouteris
Health and Social Care Unit, NHMRC CRE in Health in Preconception and Pregnancy (CRE HiPP), School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Chun Wah Michael Tam
Primary and Integrated Care Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
David Jacka
Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
Danielle Mazza
Department of General Practice, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Grant Russell
Department of General Practice, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Background: Alcohol is a major source of harm in Australia that disproportionately affects low-income communities. Alcohol brief interventions (ABIs) combine an assessment of a person’s alcohol use with advice to reduce health risks. Despite their effectiveness, ABIs are not routinely performed by clinicians. This article presents a protocol for a feasibility trial of pragmatic implementation strategies and a new set of resources to support clinicians to complete ABIs in Australian general practices. Aim: To explore the facilitators and barriers to increasing the uptake of ABIs in primary care, including acceptability, reach, adoption, fidelity, and sustainability. Design & setting: A mixed-methods evaluation of the uptake of ABIs in general practice clinics serving low-income communities in Melbourne, Australia. The approach is informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and Normalisation Process Theory (NPT). Method: The implementation strategies and resources will be trialled in five general practices over 12 months. The primary outcome will be change in the proportion of adult patients with a complete alcohol history in their electronic medical records. Baseline data collection includes a practice survey to describe practice routines for ABIs and de-identified patient medical record data on completed alcohol histories (repeated at 3, 6, 9, and 12-months post-intervention). Survey and interview data will also be collected from clinicians, patients, and primary health network staff to assess acceptability and feasibility of the intervention. Conclusion: The study will explore how the implementation strategies and resources can improve alcohol screening and management among low-income patients in general practice.
