Full title: Implementing training and support, financial reimbursement, and referral to an internet-based brief advice program to improve the early identification of hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption in primary care (ODHIN): study protocol for a cluster randomized factorial trial

Authors: Myrna N Keurhorst, Peter Anderson, Fredrik Spak, Preben Bendtsen, Lidia Segura, Joan Colom, Jillian Reynolds, Colin Drummond, Paolo Deluca, Ben van Steenkiste, Artur Mierzecki, Karolina Kłoda, Paul Wallace, Dorothy Newbury-Birch, Eileen Kaner, Toni Gual and Miranda GH Laurant.

The European level of alcohol consumption, and the subsequent burden of disease, is high compared to the rest of the world. While screening and brief interventions in primary healthcare are cost-effective, in most countries they have hardly been implemented in routine primary healthcare. In this study, we aim to examine the effectiveness and efficiency of three implementation interventions that have been chosen to address key barriers for improvement: training and support to address lack of knowledge and motivation in healthcare providers; financial reimbursement to compensate the time investment; and internet-based counselling to reduce workload for primary care providers.

Full Title: Cost-effectiveness of a programme of screening and brief interventions for alcohol in primary care in Italy

Authors: Colin Angus, Emanuele Scafato, Silvia Ghirini, Aleksandra Torbica, Francesca Ferre, Pierluigi Struzzo, Robin Purshouse and Alan Brennan

This study provides strong support for the promotion of a policy of screening and brief interventions throughout Italy, although policy makers should be aware of the resource implications of different implementation options.

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: 

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/15/26/

Full title: A medicina geral e familiar e a abordagem do consumo de álcool. Detecçao e intervençoes breves no âmbito dos cuidados de saúde primários (General practice approaches to alcohol consumption. Screening and brief interventions in primary health care settings)

Authors: Ribeiro

General practice approaches to alcohol consumption. Screening and brief interventions in primary health care settings.

Published in December 2011, Acta Médica Portuguesa (Revista da Ordem dos Médicos)

Full Title: Rastreio do consumo de álcool nos cuidados de saúde primários - atitudes dos utentes (Patient attitudes to screening of alcohol consumption in primary health care)

Authors: Campos, Ribeiro

Rastreio do consumo de álcool nos cuidados de saúde primários - atitudes dos utentes (Patient attitudes to screening of alcohol consumption in primary health care)

Published in March 2012, Revista Portuguesa de Medicina Geral e Familiar.