RT Journal
A1 Ockene JK, Wheeler EV, Adams A, Hurley TG, Hebert J
T1 PRovider training for patient-centered alcohol counseling in a primary care setting
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 1997
FD November 10
VO 157
IS 20
SP 2334
OP 2341
DO 10.1001/archinte.1997.00440410066007
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1997.00440410066007
AB Objective: 
    To assess the impact of a brief training program on primary care providers' skills, attitudes, and knowledge regarding high-risk and problem drinking.Design: 
    Training plus pretesting and posttesting for program efficacy.Setting: 
    Ambulatory primary care clinic; academic medical center.Participants: 
    Fourteen attending physicians, 12 residents, and 5 nurse practitioners were randomized by clinical team affiliation to a Special Intervention or usual care condition of a larger study. We report the results of the training program for the Special Intervention providers.Intervention: 
    Providers received a 2-hour group training session plus a 10- to 20-minute individual tutorial session 2 to 6 weeks after the group session. The training focused on teaching providers how to perform patient-centered counseling for high-risk and problem drinkers.Main Outcome Measures: 
    Alcohol counseling skills; attitudes regarding preparedness to intervene and perceived importance and usefulness of intervening with high-risk and problem drinkers; and knowledge of the nature, prevalence, and appropriate treatment of alcohol abuse in primary care populations.Results: 
    After training, providers scored significantly higher on measures of counseling skills, preparedness to intervene, perceived usefulness and importance of intervening, and knowledge.Conclusion: 
    A group training program plus brief individual feedback can significantly improve primary care providers' counseling skills, attitudes, and knowledge regarding high-risk and problem drinkers.Arch Intern Med. 1997;157:2334-2341