Alcohol use disorders and alcohol dependence are common in Australia yet remain underdiagnosed and undertreated. The reasons for this appear to be fear of discrimination preventing persons from accessing specialist care, coupled with insufficient screening in other areas of the health service.
In this second part of our series on Alcohol use disorders (AUDs), we introduce standardised screening tools which nurses can use in everyday practice to identify people at risk from alcohol-related harm.
Guidelines recommend that persons found to be drinking at levels hazardous to their health then be involved in ‘brief interventions’ to motivate them to reduce their intake.
Evidence-based approaches and techniques are presented to help nurses effectively engage with patients in conversation. We also discuss how nurses can recognise and help manage specific health hazards and social risks associated with alcohol use.
Finally, a brief overview of the options for long-term treatment and medications available for AUD patients is provided.
This module is part of a series of three on alcohol use disorders. The three modules are:
At the end of this module participants will be able to:
