Large Scale Implementation of Early Identification and Brief Intervention in Swedish Primary Health Care – will it be Successful?

Abstract

Aim: The aim is to describe the Swedish efforts to implement secondary prevention of alcohol problems on a large scale in Primary Health Care. Results: Sweden has a long tradition of working in prevention of alcohol problems, on both national and local levels. The activities have increased over recent years, especially regarding the dissemination of knowledge about harmful use of alcohol and implementation of early identification and brief intervention (EIBI) methods. Compared to the implementation of EIBI in most other countries, these activities appear to have been promoted to a high level in Sweden. This development has probably been the result of several activities in this field, both national and international, rather than the result of any single measure. Conclusions: Although there is evidence that education alone is not a sufficient solution to implement new methods, the main focus was competence enhancement in Sweden. As more people lately have been engaged in EIBI, both in connection with implementation and research, our prediction is that this research field will be boosted in the coming years. It is also likely that the screening for alcohol issues will become a part of general health (or lifestyle-related) screening. A key issue will be to focus on the sustainability of EIBI methods, possibly through continuous support, e.g. by coaching or pay-per-performance economic reimbursement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)(journal abstract)