Alcohol Certificate
THE RCGP CERTIFICATE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ALCOHOL PROBLEMS
IN PRIMARY CARE
The misuse of alcohol is a serious
health issue of national concern with evidence of significant harm
caused through misuse in the UK and worldwide. Dealing with
the consequences for physical and mental health and the impact on
society is a challenge for everybody working in healthcare.
Brief interventions in primary care
are widely underused despite a strong evidence base for their
efficacy and the fact that they are easy to deliver. Alcohol causes
much greater harm than hypertension which is generally identified
and managed entirely in primary care by health professionals
working to agreed routine, systematic and structured protocols, yet
few primary healthcare teams manage increased or higher risk
drinking as methodically as they approach hypertension.
When GPs are asked what incentives
would be required to enable them to carry out brief interventions,
many mention training and support. There is indeed good evidence
that when GPs and nurses are adequately trained and supported for
this work, brief intervention activity increases. However, there is
also evidence that support should be geared to the needs and
attitudes of health professionals to be effective and avoid being
counterproductive in the longer term.
The implementation of a standardised
approach to the delivery of brief interventions to increased and
higher risk drinkers can probably save more in terms of years of
life saved and provide better value for money.
The RCGP has developed this
Certificate in response to increasing demand for education in the
treatment of alcohol misuse. It is aimed at GPs and other
healthcare professionals working in primary care.
Since it’s launch in September 2009,
over 80 events have taken place in the UK with more than
1500 healthcare professionals receiving training. The
course receives excellent feedback and is regularly updated
to take new evidence and guidelines into account.
Course
Contents
The Certificate in
the Management of Alcohol Problems in Primary Care consists of an
on-line e-module, which can be accsssed at http://www.alcohollearningcentre.org.uk/eLearning/IBA/
and a one day Face to Face event, including pre-course
self marked workbook:
Course Costs
The cost of the Alcohol
Certificate National Training Event is £250 per person which
includes reading material.
This course can also be
organised and run as a Local Event using RCGP Approved Trainers in
a similar way to Certificate in the Management of Drugs Misuse Part
1, with a minimum charge of £150 per delegate to cover the
cost of registration for the certifiicate and reading
materials. However, charges for a Local Face to Face event
may vary due to the variation in the costs involved in organising
the course and depending on their funding grants or
sponsorship.
RCGP Certificate in the Management of Alcohol Problems in
Primary Care Training Events
National Events 2012
Local Events 2012
For more information about attending an event, please
contact the Alcohol
Team (alcohol@rcgp.org.uk)
For details to organise a local event contact Sally O'Neill