The ICGP and HSE have developed a ‘standard drinks’ measure for use in consultations as a visual aid to help GPs, practice nurses and patients to estimate and discuss alcohol intake. According to the College, it is one of a range of ICGP initiatives and resources to promote alcohol reduction, with a position paper having been published in 2012 and an e-learning programme on alcohol-related clinical topics due to be launched shortly.
The concept for the glass arose initially from Dr Peter Sloane, Director of the ICGP Network of Establishing GPs (NEGs), and its development was first announced at the ICGP Winter Meeting in November.
The College underlined that 11,740 bed days were used for alcohol detoxification in 2012, according to Department of Health figures, which equalled an economic cost to the heath service of €11 million.
The standard drinks measure, which the ICGP is distributing to its membership, is a glass that has the accurate measure of one unit of wine or spirits marked on it. Standard drinks is a means of expressing the quantity of pure alcohol in a drink, with one standard drink containing 10g of pure alcohol, the estimated amount that the average adult can process in an hour.
Dr Margaret O’Riordan, Medical Director, ICGP, commented: “We want to encourage patients to talk about how much they drink and to bring the conversation about alcohol from a subjective to a more accurate one in the general practice setting.”
Source: Catherine Reilly, imt.ie, 21/02/14
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