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North London alcohol workplace project: IBA in workplace settings?. Dr Rachel Herring Middlesex University. James Morris The AERC Alcohol Academy. London Alcohol Summit 29 th November 2010. Background .
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North London alcohol workplace project: IBA in workplace settings? Dr Rachel Herring Middlesex University James Morris The AERC Alcohol Academy London Alcohol Summit 29th November 2010
Background • In 2009 Healthy Enfield applied to NHS London/RPHG to explore practicalities of delivering IBA in the workplace • There is limited research about the efficacy and practical implication of IBA in the workplace • Most alcohol workplace policy/intervention relates to higher risk/dependency, e.g. linked to disciplinary action - remember: Increasing risk drinkers = 7.3 mHigher risk = 2.4m
Does it matter? • Total alcohol-related output loss to the UK economy of up to £6.4bn • Absenteeism through alcohol misuse costs the economy about £1.5bn (17m lost days). Drinking 7+ (women) or 14+ (men) units/week raises the likelihood of absence through injury by 20% • Inability to work (unemployment and early retirement) & premature deaths among economically active people costs £1.9 b (20m lost days) • Structural work factors can influence the risk of alcohol-misuse and harm • Alcohol-related absenteeism alone costs London employers £294m
“oil broker Stephen Perkins…woke up and found that he had drunkenly traded more than 7m barrels of Brent crude oil and caused a spike in crude prices that panicked world markets.” The Guardian 30 June 2010 The Guardian 24 Nov 2010
Broad aims • To deliver IBA training to a range of workplace roles to test the suitability and practicalities for various settings i.e. feasibility study • Not testing ‘does IBA work’ (i.e. outcomes for those receiving IBA in workplace settings (some studies have assessed this*) • Evaluation to inform future policy & practice * E.g. Watson et al 2009 (AERC insight 63), Webb et all 2008 (Addiction journal)
Delivery • IBA training to workplace roles: • Occupational Health • Employee assistance programmes • Union representatives • Managers of safety critical roles • Other health or safety roles or e.g. emergency services • Human Resources and other management roles responsible for employee health and wellbeing • Provision of IBA resources to support this • Support for workplace drug and alcohol policy • Hub: Enfield, Haringey, Barnet, Camden
Independent evaluation • Assess the perceived value of IBA training to individuals within the workplace • Assess whether IBA training results in action to identify and advise staff regarding alcohol use/problems • Consider the aspects of the workplace setting that act to facilitate or deter action regarding the identification and delivery of advise to staff regarding alcohol use/problems • To make recommendations which may inform the development of workplace policies
Methods • Review of key literature • Pre and post training survey of all participants • Follow up interviews with a selected sample of participants
Challenges? • Buy-in: current climate of job-losses and uncertainty - extra responsibility /pressure means new projects are not a priority • Perceptions: disentangling disciplinary procedures and higher risk from the opportunity of early intervention (IBA) • Suitability of IBA: some roles are not likely to see full IBA as realistic e.g. a manger to screen a member of staff? IBA ‘lite’/leaflet instead?
Thank you Dr Rachel Herring R.Herring@mdx.ac.uk James Morris, AERC Alcohol Academy james@alcoholacademy.net 0207 450 2930