Improving access to treatment for alcohol dependence in primary care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving access to treatment for alcohol dependence in primary care: investigating sociodemographic, personal and clinical factors that facilitate and impede treatment access and completion.
IRAS ID
313497
Contact name
Catharine Montgomery
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool John Moores University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 6 days
Research summary
In the UK, alcohol related deaths increased by 20% in 2020 from the previous year - the second highest number ever recorded (Public Health England, 2021). The number of people who are dependent on alcohol is higher in areas of the UK with more social deprivation, with Liverpool being the 3rd most deprived local authority (Liverpool City Council, 2019), and also having the 3rd highest rate of alcohol dependence (Office for National Statistics, 2020). Nationally, it has been shown that people with alcohol dependence in areas of higher social deprivation are less likely to receive the treatment that they need in a timely manner through primary care providers.
Our aim is to explore how acceptability of, and access to, treatment for people with alcohol dependence in primary care, particularly for deprived groups can be improved. To achieve this, adult primary care patients with alcohol dependence (n ~ 15-20) and healthcare professionals (n ~ 15-20) based in Liverpool will be given the opportunity to share their experiences via interviews. We will use this information to identify factors that help and/or hinder patients with alcohol dependence accessing and engaging with treatment. Based on this qualitative analysis, recommendations for treatment accessibility and referral for alcohol dependence in primary care will be identified. Focus groups (~3-6) with key stakeholders including primary care patients, healthcare professionals and commissioners of alcohol services will allow us to explore the perceived acceptability and feasibility of the recommendations. The results of this study will help us to revise and pilot the recommendations for treatment pathways in areas of Liverpool with higher levels of alcohol dependence and social deprivation. This research is important as it will improve care for individuals with alcohol dependence and could reduce the number of alcohol related hospital admissions to reduce costs to the NHS.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/LO/0335
Date of REC Opinion
11 May 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion