Avoid Harmful Drinking

Download
For Who? Recommended Care Componentsa By Whom?b How Often?
Empowerment
All Provide messages about the harmful health effect of alcohol consumption
+ advise not to drink2 		Primary Healthcare Providers Opportunistically
Drinkers who are planning for pregnancy, or are pregnant Provide message about the effects of alcohol consumption on both maternal and fetal health
+ advise not to drink2 		Primary Healthcare Providers Opportunistically and
At each antenatal visit
Assessment
All, including pregnant women Assess drinking habit using Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Guideline and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)4
Accessible at:
https://www.change4health.gov.hk/filemanager/common/pdf/presentation_material/dh_audit_2017_alcohol_guideline_en.pdf 		Trained Healthcare Professionals Opportunistically
Management
Drinkers drinking at Lower Risk (AUDIT scores of 1-7) Advise:
  1. Drinking less or abstinence
  2. For regular women drinkers, limit alcoholic drinks to 1 unit a day
 Trained Healthcare Professionals Opportunistically
Drinkers drinking at Increasing Risk (AUDIT scores of 8-15) Offer:
  1. Simple advice to minimise alcohol-related harm2
  2. Patient education materials2
 Trained Healthcare Professionals Opportunistically
Drinkers with Harmful Drinking (AUDIT scores of 16-19) Offer:
(1) Brief Intervention:2, 5
  • Present screening results
  • Identify risks and discuss consequences
  • Provide medical advice
  • Solicit patient commitment
  • Identify goal: reduced drinking or abstinence
  • Give advice and encouragement
+ continued monitoring to assist drinkers to drink less 		Trained Healthcare Professionals Opportunistically
OR
(2) Motivational Interviewing or Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)6
Drinkers with Probable Alcohol Dependence (AUDIT scores of 20 or above) Refer to cessation service or a specialist for diagnostic evaluation and possible treatment for alcohol dependence2 Trained Healthcare Professionals Opportunistically
Pregnant women with harmful drinking Refer to fetal medicine subspecialist to scan for fetal alcohol syndrome Trained Healthcare Professionals As early as possible once identified during pregnancy

1. Empowerment

a. For Who: All
Recommended Care Componentsa:
Provide messages about the harmful health effect of alcohol consumption
+ advise not to drink2
By Whomb: Primary Healthcare Providers
How Often: Opportunistically
b. For Who: Drinkers who are planning for pregnancy, or are pregnant
Recommended Care Componentsa:
Provide message about the effects of alcohol consumption on both maternal and fetal health
+ advise not to drink2
By Whomb: Primary Healthcare Providers
How Often: Opportunistically and At each antenatal visit

 

2. Assessment

a. For Who: All, including pregnant women
Recommended Care Componentsa:
Assess drinking habit using Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Guideline and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)4
Accessible at:
https://www.change4health.gov.hk/filemanager/common/pdf/presentation_material/dh_audit_2017_alcohol_guideline_en.pdf
By Whomb: Trained Healthcare Professionals
How Often: Opportunistically

 

3. Management

a. For Who: Drinkers drinking at Lower Risk (AUDIT scores of 1-7)
Recommended Care Componentsa:
Advise:
  1. Drinking less or abstinence
  2. For regular women drinkers, limit alcoholic drinks to 1 unit a day
By Whomb: Trained Healthcare Professionals
How Often: Opportunistically
b. For Who: Drinkers drinking at Increasing Risk (AUDIT scores of 8-15)
Recommended Care Componentsa:
Offer:
  1. Simple advice to minimise alcohol-related harm2
  2. Patient education materials2
By Whomb: Trained Healthcare Professionals
How Often: Opportunistically
c. For Who: Drinkers with Harmful Drinking (AUDIT scores of 16-19)
Recommended Care Componentsa:
Offer:
(1) Brief Intervention:2, 5
  • Present screening results
  • Identify risks and discuss consequences
  • Provide medical advice
  • Solicit patient commitment
  • Identify goal: reduced drinking or abstinence
  • Give advice and encouragement
+ continued monitoring to assist drinkers to drink less
OR
(2) Motivational Interviewing or Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)6
By Whomb: Trained Healthcare Professionals
How Often: Opportunistically
d. For Who: Drinkers with Probable Alcohol Dependence (AUDIT scores of 20 or above)
Recommended Care Componentsa:
Refer to cessation service or a specialist for diagnostic evaluation and possible treatment for alcohol dependence2
By Whomb: Trained Healthcare Professionals
How Often: Opportunistically
e. For Who: Pregnant women with harmful drinking
Recommended Care Componentsa:
Refer to fetal medicine subspecialist to scan for fetal alcohol syndrome
By Whomb: Trained Healthcare Professionals
How Often: As early as possible once identified during pregnancy

 

AUDIT = Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; MET = Motivational Enhancement Therapy

a Grade of recommendation according to colour code:
Recommended (Strong)
Conditionally recommended
Practice points
Generally not recommended
Not recommended (Strong)
b Primary Healthcare Providers – All providers of health services in primary healthcare settings
Primary Healthcare Professionals – Includes doctors, dentists, chinese medicine practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, dietitians
“Trained” Healthcare Professionals – Additional post-qualification training required to deliver the respective care component(s)
Further Readings Reference Materials for Healthcare Professionals Education and Self-Help Materials for the General Public References
Back to Healthy Lifestyle