General practice nurses' knowledge of alcohol use and misuse: A questionnaire survey

Nurses in general practice (termed practice nurses) are an under-utilized r esource for the detection and management of patients with alcohol misuse. H owever, little is known about their knowledge and attitudes towards alcohol use and misuse. We therefore conducted a postal questionnaire survey of 13 2 practice nurses in Liverpool (UK). The results of our survey (response ra te 77%) show that a knowledge and skills gap exists in the delivery of effe ctive advice on alcohol-related issues. Indeed, our results suggest that on ly one in two women and one in three men are receiving correct advice on se nsible limits of alcohol consumption, this despite the fact that alcohol hi stories are taken. Further training was requested by most nurses to develop their screening and health promotion roles, and to become involved in the management of patients with alcohol-related problems in primary care. We su ggest practice nurses should be encouraged to become involved in screening for, and management of, alcohol-related problems. However, it is important to ensure that the nurses receive appropriate training and have adequate ba ck-up facilities from doctors and other workers involved in the care of pat ients with alcohol-related problems.