What can primary care services do to help First Nations people with unhealthy alcohol use? A systematic review: Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada

• Published in: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
• Main Authors: Gemma C. Purcell-Khodr, K. S. Kylie Lee, James H. Conigrave, Emma Webster, Katherine M. Conigrave
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2020
• Subjects: Indigenous; First Nations; Alcohol; Primary health care; Outpatient; Relapse prevention medicines; Medicine (General); R5-920; Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology; HV1-9960; Canada; New Zealand
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-020-00204-8; https://doaj.org/article/9b9260e4a46e4a978567acab7242c02b

Abstract Background First Nations peoples of Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America (USA) and Canada are more likely to be non-drinkers than other people in these countries. However, those who do drink may be at greater risk of alcohol-related harms (at a population level) due to the ongoing impacts from colonisation and associated oppression. Addressing unhealthy drinking (drinking above recommended limits including alcohol use disorders) in primary care settings is one important way to increase accessibility of treatment. Methods This systematic review identifies peer-reviewed studies of alcohol treatments delivered in primary care or other non-residential settings for First Nations peoples of Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada. Literature searches were conducted in seven academic databases from their inception until March, 2020. We assessed evidence of treatment or implementation effectiveness, perceived acceptability or accessibility, and the study quality as assessed by the AXIS tool and by a measure of community participation in the research process. Results Twenty-eight studies were included, published between 1968 and 2018. Studies reported on a range of alcohol treatments, from brief intervention to ambulatory withdrawal management, relapse prevention medicines, and cultural therapies. Brief intervention was the most studied approach. Cultural healing practices and bicultural approaches were a key theme amongst several studies. Four studies measured treatment effectiveness, including one randomised controlled trial (naltrexone vs naltrexone plus sertraline vs placebo) and two uncontrolled trials of disulfiram. Of the six implementation studies, three were (hybrid) effectiveness-implementation designs. Most of the remaining studies (n = 21) focused on treatment accessibility or acceptability. Community participation in the research process was poorly reported in most studies. Conclusions Research evidence on how best to care for First Nations peoples with unhealthy alcohol use is ...