OBJECTIVE: To find out the opinions of health professionals on adolescent alcohol drinking and their evaluation of the existing legal regulation measures. DESIGN: Qualitative and exploratory study, based on semi-structured interviews. SETTING: Four cities representing four different regions in Spain: Palma de Mallorca, Granada, Barcelona and Pamplona. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 36 physicians and nurses from four Spanish regions, working in Primary Care and Emergency Care, selected by intentiones samples. MEASUREMENTS: A total of 36 deep interviews, analysed using the software Nudist Vivo 4.0. RESULTS: Health professionals accept their important role in preventing and intervening in adolescent alcohol drinking. Generally, they consider it as a public health problem. Prevention is associated with Primary Care, while the Emergency Departments act in specific situations of alohol abuse. Adolescents infrequently visit Primary Care, thus prevention must centre on education system and constant coordination between health professional and parents. Health personnel do not have sufficient knowledge on legal regulations. They consider educational measures as more efficient than sanctions. CONCLUSIONS: Specific professional training is required in order to guarantee the coordination between the health and education systems and the family.
OBJECTIVE: To find out the opinions of health professionals on adolescent alcohol drinking and their evaluation of the existing legal regulation measures. DESIGN: Qualitative and exploratory study, based on semi-structured interviews. SETTING: Four cities representing four different regions in Spain: Palma de Mallorca, Granada, Barcelona and Pamplona. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 36 physicians and nurses from four Spanish regions, working in Primary Care and Emergency Care, selected by intentiones samples. MEASUREMENTS: A total of 36 deep interviews, analysed using the software Nudist Vivo 4.0. RESULTS: Health professionals accept their important role in preventing and intervening in adolescent alcohol drinking. Generally, they consider it as a public health problem. Prevention is associated with Primary Care, while the Emergency Departments act in specific situations of alohol abuse. Adolescents infrequently visit Primary Care, thus prevention must centre on education system and constant coordination between health professional and parents. Health personnel do not have sufficient knowledge on legal regulations. They consider educational measures as more efficient than sanctions. CONCLUSIONS: Specific professional training is required in order to guarantee the coordination between the health and education systems and the family.
Authors: Bradley O Boekeloo; Marilyn P Bobbin; Wilhelmena I Lee; Kevin D Worrell; Ellen K Hamburger; Estelle Russek-Cohen Journal: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med Date: 2003-05