5 September 2014
Researchers:
Sarah Baker, Leeds Metropolitan University, Charlie Lloyd, University of York
- 45 out of the 48 hospitals responding to the survey had at least one dedicated AHW
- AHW services are frequently precarious, with limited management support, short-term funding and a lack of ownership from key agencies
- Over time, AHWs tended to migrate up the alcohol problem gradient, working with dependent drinkers rather than undertaking or encouraging identification and brief advice
- Given the complex and multifaceted nature of their work, it was difficult for AHWs to demonstrate their effectiveness through routine data collection. There is an urgent need for more sophisticated outcome evaluations in this field.
