An e-learning course for primary health care specialists on identifying alcohol-related health risks and providing brief intervention

Alcohol consumption continues to be a significant public health concern. Both international and national guidelines advocate for the screening and brief intervention (SBI) within primary health care (PHC) settings as effective measures for harm reduction. However, the implementation of SBI has been hampered by inadequate training for professionals, enduring societal attitudes towards alcohol use, and the presence of stigma. E-learning presents a promising format for the foundational training of healthcare professionals, thereby enhancing knowledge and addressing these barriers. Objective. To develop a comprehensive e-learning course on SBI for PHC providers and to evaluate its effectiveness. Materials and methods. The course was developed using principles of design thinking, grounded in Russian research and recommendations on SBI. The prototype underwent an expert review, after which it was refined and delivered in electronic format. User testing was conducted, and feedback was assessed using the research analysis. The course’s effectiveness was evaluated using a «before-and-after» study design, incorporating knowledge assessments and self-evaluations regarding the ability to handle typical SBI scenarios (such as initiating discussions about alcohol use and making referrals to psychiatric specialists). Participant satisfaction with the course was also assessed. Descriptive statistics, the Wilcoxon test, and research analysis of open responses were employed. Results. The course comprised eight modules encompassing both theoretical and practical components. Following a peer review and user testing (n=8), the course content was refined. A total of fifty PHC professionals participated in the efficacy evaluation. The mean level of knowledge (percentage of correct answers) increased from 54.9% to 82.9%, with the Wilcoxon test indicating a statistically significant improvement. However, the median self-reported capability to manage typical situations did not show statistically significant differences, decreasing from 3.75 to 3.00 out of 5 (p>0.05). Satisfaction with the course was notably high, with a median score of 4.76 out of 5. Conclusions. The findings suggest that the e-learning course effectively enhanced healthcare professionals’ knowledge. The data confirm its utility as an educational tool for training specialists in SBI. Moreover, the high level of participant satisfaction indicates the potential for further development and broader application of the course.