Alcohol Brief Intervention

This set of flashcards contains key vocabulary and definitions related to Alcohol Brief Interventions, their significance, and related public health guidelines.

Alcohol Brief Intervention (ABI)

A short, structured conversation aimed at encouraging individuals to reduce their alcohol consumption if they are drinking at hazardous or harmful levels.

AUDIT

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, a comprehensive assessment tool used to diagnose alcohol use disorders.

Person-first language

Language that focuses first on the person rather than the behavior, promoting a non-judgmental and inclusive consultation.

Health consequences of harmful drinking

Significant public health issues that include a wide range of health risks, often underestimated by both healthcare professionals and patients.

NICE guidance

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance that invites all health and social care professionals to offer brief interventions on alcohol.

Cessation of drinking

The process of stopping alcohol consumption, often facilitated by brief interventions and support from healthcare professionals.

Risk thresholds for alcohol consumption

Defined levels of alcohol consumption that categorize individuals into low-risk, increasing risk, and high-risk categories.

FRAMES framework

A communication framework used in ABIs: Feedback, Responsibility, Advice, Menu of options, Empathy, Self-efficacy.

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder

A range of harmful impacts on a fetus resulting from alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Public Health England

A government organization that considers alcohol a leading cause of ill health and early death, advocating for effective alcohol treatment.

Global Drug Survey

Research that investigates substance use patterns among different populations, including non-binary individuals.

AUDIT-C

A short form of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test consisting of the first three questions, focusing on consumption behavior.

Harmful drinking

Consumption levels that pose significant health risks, potentially leading to alcohol use disorders.

Community pharmacy service models

Innovative approaches integrated into existing pharmacy services to address public health concerns, including alcohol-related issues.

Alcohol Awareness Week

An annual campaign aimed at raising awareness about alcohol consumption and its impacts.

Non-binary identities

Gender identities that exist outside the traditional male/female dichotomy, often associated with higher substance use and dependence.

Evidence-based approaches

Strategies and methods supported by scientific research to effectively address alcohol consumption issues.

Alcohol unit calculator

A tool developed to help individuals understand alcohol consumption in terms of units.

"What does AUDIT stand for?"

"Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test."

"What do hazardous, harmful, and dependent drinking mean?

Hazardous drinking is drinking that increases the risk of harm; harmful drinking is when there is clear evidence of health harm; dependent drinking involves craving, tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control, and preoccupation with alcohol."

"What is the safest amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy?"

"No alcohol at all; complete avoidance is the safest option for the developing fetus."

"Why might someone who drank a small amount before knowing they were pregnant be reassured?"

"The risk from small amounts of alcohol before pregnancy is recognised is lower; ongoing drinking later in pregnancy poses greater risk to fetal development."

"What is the main goal of an Alcohol Brief Intervention (ABI)?"

"To use a short structured conversation to help people reduce their alcohol consumption when it may be causing or risking harm."

"Who is invited by NICE guidance to deliver Alcohol Brief Interventions?"

"All health and social care professionals, including pharmacists.

"What are the core components of an Alcohol Brief Intervention?"

"Screening feedback advice goal-setting and follow-up."

"In the FRAMES model, what does each letter stand for?

F = Feedback, R = Responsibility, A = Advice, M = Menu of options, E = Empathy, S = Self-efficacy.""

"Why is it helpful to provide a menu of options during an ABI?"

"It supports patient autonomy allows tailored choices and can increase engagement with behaviour change."

"What communication style is recommended when delivering an Alcohol Brief Intervention?"

"An informal non-judgmental person-centred and supportive style."

"Which techniques help patients open up in ABI conversations?"

"Using open-ended questions practising active listening showing empathy avoiding confrontation and encouraging reflection."

"Why is person-first language important in alcohol consultations?"

"It reduces stigma emphasises the person rather than the behaviour and helps create a safe and inclusive space."

"Give an example of person-first language for someone with problematic drinking."

"Say person with alcohol dependence rather than alcoholic."

"What app can pharmacists recommend to help patients track their alcohol-free days?"

"A Drink Free Days style app from NHS or Public Health bodies that tracks alcohol-free days and offers tips."

"What kind of practical lifestyle changes can you suggest to help reduce drinking?"

"Planning drink-free days choosing low or no-alcohol options delaying the first drink avoiding buying rounds and arranging social activities that are not centred on alcohol."

"Which groups may face higher alcohol-related risk but are often overlooked in binary gender data?"

"Non-binary people and some members of the LGBTQ plus community."

"What kinds of problems can drive higher alcohol use in LGBTQ plus and non-binary communities?"

"Stress discrimination social exclusion and higher exposure to unsafe or violent situations."

"How can pharmacists support LGBTQ plus and non-binary individuals who want help with alcohol?"

"By using inclusive language avoiding assumptions being aware of specific LGBTQ plus resources and signposting to friendly alcohol support services."

"How can community pharmacists integrate Alcohol Brief Interventions into everyday practice?"

"By using opportunistic conversations during medication reviews health checks and over-the-counter consultations instead of treating ABIs as a separate service."

"What are common barriers to delivering Alcohol Brief Interventions in community pharmacy?"

"Time pressure lack of privacy patient discomfort and uncertainty about whether patients view pharmacists as the right people to discuss alcohol with."

"What is an example of correct person-first language in an exam-style question?"

"Using person with an alcohol dependence instead of alcoholic."

"What are the four main learning outcomes of the ABI teaching session?"

"Appreciating alcohol’s impact on individual and public health; understanding UK guidance on alcohol and health risk; explaining evidence-based brief intervention approaches; and preparing to apply these approaches in clinical pharmacy consultations."

"What Public Health England resource supports investment in alcohol treatment?"

"The Health Matters: harmful drinking and alcohol dependence report."

"Which Public Health England document from 2014 outlines opportunities to protect and improve the nation’s health?"

"From Evidence to Action: Opportunities to Protect and Improve the Nation’s Health."

"What health priority relating to alcohol is included among the NHS key population priorities?"

"Reducing harmful drinking and alcohol-related hospital admissions."

"Why is it important not to focus only on people with severe alcohol dependence?"

"Because alcohol-related harm can also occur in people whose drinking is hazardous or at increasing risk levels even if they are not clearly dependent."

"What three main scenarios are covered by current UK guidance on alcohol?"

"Regular weekly drinking single episodes of drinking and drinking in pregnancy."

"What standard phrase can be used to frame alcohol guidance in a non-judgmental way?"

"There is no completely safe level of drinking but sticking within the guidelines lowers the risk of harming health."

"What term describes the group of conditions caused by alcohol exposure in pregnancy?"

"Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder often abbreviated to FASD

"Beyond the amount of alcohol what key concept is stressed in pregnancy advice?"

"That the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all during pregnancy."

"What historic limitation in alcohol research related to gender is highlighted?"

"Most research only collected data using binary male and female categories and did not account for gender diversity."

"What additional harms under the influence of alcohol are reported by some non-binary people?"

"A greater unmet need for help in reducing alcohol use and a higher risk of experiencing sexual violence."

"Besides Dry January

name another UK campaign that promotes changing drinking habits."

"What is the general idea behind Alcohol Awareness Week?"

"A recurring national campaign that focuses attention on alcohol-related issues and encourages reflection and behaviour change."

"What does AUDIT-C focus on within alcohol screening?"

"It focuses on alcohol consumption behaviour, using the first three questions of the full AUDIT tool

"Why might Alcohol Brief Interventions need refinement specifically for pharmacy settings?"

"Because research suggests limited effectiveness in some pharmacy contexts indicating the approach may need adapting to workload environment and patient expectations."

"Under what conditions are patients more open to discussing alcohol with community pharmacists?"

"When the discussion takes place as part of a medicines review, is handled sensitively, and the relevance to their health and medicines is made clear."

"What practical step can pharmacies take to normalise conversations about alcohol?"

"Displaying posters or information materials about alcohol and health to create a visible supportive environment."

"Which phrase is a person-first way to refer to someone improving their relationship with alcohol: person in recovery or recovering alcoholic?"

"Person in recovery."

"What alternative phrase can be used instead of relapse to reduce stigma?"

"Recurrence of use."