Clinician reported delivery of chronic disease preventive health care to clients attending community drug and alcohol services — Agentur Pty Ltd
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Clinician reported delivery of chronic disease preventive health care to clients attending community drug and alcohol services (75)

Danika Tremain 1 2 , Megan Freund 1 2 , Paula Wye 1 2 , Luke Wolfenden 1 2 , Jenny Bowman 1 2 , Adrian Dunlop 1 2 , John Wiggers 1 2
  1. The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
  2. Hunter New England Population Health, Wallsend, NSW, Australia

Background:

Research indicates that people with substance use problems report high levels of modifiable health risk behaviours such as smoking, inadequate nutrition, harmful alcohol consumption and physical inactivity. However, physical health care has not traditionally been addressed within drug and alcohol treatment services. This study reports the findings of a survey of Australian drug and alcohol clinicians to assess the delivery of chronic disease preventive care to community drug and alcohol clients.

Methods:

A cross-sectional computer assisted telephone interview was conducted in NSW, Australia of 67 community drug and alcohol clinicians. Clinicians were asked to report the proportion of clients they provided with preventive care (in the form of assessment, brief advice, and referral), for the health risk factors of smoking, inadequate nutrition, harmful alcohol consumption and physical inactivity. Clinicians were also asked to report their beliefs towards such preventive care delivery. Optimal preventive care was defined as that provided to >=80% of relevant clients.

Results/Discussions:

Fifty four clinicians completed the survey (81% consent rate). Preventive care delivery varied across risk factors, with the optimal levels of clinician reported delivery of care being provided for assessment of smoking (87%) and alcohol consumption (94%). Lower levels of optimal assessment were reported for nutrition (22%) and physical activity (44%). A similar pattern in prevalence of care delivery was found for brief advice, however, offer of referral across all risk factors was low (0-4%).

Conclusions/implications:

The majority of clinicians reported asking clients about their smoking and alcohol and providing brief advice to those identified with such risks. However levels of care provision were suboptimal for inadequate nutrition and physical inactivity and for referral for all risks. Given the significant health problems associated with these risk factors, future studies should investigate how preventive care provision can be improved for clients of drug and alcohol services.

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