Clinical competencies for the care of hospitalized patients with alcohol use disorders

AIMS: The UK government aims to develop alcohol care teams (ACTs) that provide care for alcohol dependence in general hospital settings. Service descriptors have been identified to support the development of ACTs. The aim of this study was to use Delphi panel principles to identify the clinical competencies required to provide these elements of service.

METHODS: We formed an expert consensus panel of 24 senior clinical alcohol practitioners, leaders and experts by experience drawn from all regions of England. The study was divided into three distinct phases: (a) a review and synthesis of current literature in this area, (b) a face-to-face meeting of the expert panel and (c) subsequent iterations to refine the competencies until consensus was reached.

RESULTS: Our initial search strategy resulted in 555 competency statements being extracted from a range of national clinical professional and occupational standards and other sources. The research team refined these statements to 98 competencies in advance of the expert meeting. The panel identified 14 additional statements and reduced the number of competencies to 78. Subsequent iterations finalized 72 competencies across the 8 service descriptors.

CONCLUSIONS: Drawing on the existing published resources and clinical experience, the expert panel has provided consensus on the core clinical competencies required for alcohol care teams in caring for hospitalized patients with alcohol use disorders. Whilst it is acknowledged that the range of current provision is variable, these competencies provide a template for clinical practice and the development of multidisciplinary ACTs.

10.1093/alcalc/agaa024

0735-0414

395-400

Phillips, Thomas

ccaac4ca-e774-45ba-b6bf-bb5dac709286

Porter, Amy

676a9053-21ed-4564-9def-a3765e14efce

Sinclair, Julia

be3e54d5-c6da-4950-b0ba-3cb8cdcab13c

July 2020

Phillips, Thomas

ccaac4ca-e774-45ba-b6bf-bb5dac709286

Porter, Amy

676a9053-21ed-4564-9def-a3765e14efce

Sinclair, Julia

be3e54d5-c6da-4950-b0ba-3cb8cdcab13c

Phillips, Thomas, Porter, Amy and Sinclair, Julia (2020) Clinical competencies for the care of hospitalized patients with alcohol use disorders. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 55 (4), 395-400. (doi:10.1093/alcalc/agaa024).

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Accepted/In Press date: 19 March 2020

e-pub ahead of print date: 22 April 2020

Published date: July 2020

Additional Information: Funding Information: This is an independent research funded by NHS England and Improvement with support from Public Health England and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, Department of Health or Royal College of Psychiatrist. TP is part-funded by National Institute for Health Research, Clinical Research Network for Yorkshire and The Humber. Members of the Alcohol Care Team Clinical Competency Expert Panel were Annabel Bouteloupe Wandsworth Consortium Drug and Alcohol Service; Gill Campbell Turning Point; Prof Carmel Clancy Middlesex University and International Nurses Society on Addictions; Arlene Copland Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust; John Crome Essex Partnership University Trust; Dr Ed Day University of Birmingham Institute for Mental Health; Dr Jonathan Dewhurst Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust; Louise Dunn University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust; Judith Durkin County Durham Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service, Spectrum CIC; Anya Farmbrough University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; Ms Moya Forsythe Better Lives, Islington’s Drug and Alcohol Service; David Henstock Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Mark Holmes Humankind Charity; Claire James Change Grow Live; Dr Nicola Kalk South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London; Christopher McGowan Whiston Hospital; Dr Kieran Moriarty British Society of Gastroenterology; Louisa Morley Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust; Nicola Oldham Pinderfields Funding Information: This project was funded by NHS England and Improvement with support from Public Health England and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s) 2020. Medical Council on Alcohol and Oxford University Press.