A Latent Class Analysis of Perceived Barriers to Help-seeking Among People with Alcohol Use Problems Presenting for Telephone-delivered Treatment

Abstract

Aims Despite the magnitude of alcohol use problems globally, treatment uptake remains low. This study sought to determine the proportion of people presenting to telephone-delivered alcohol treatment who are first-time help-seekers, and explored perceived barriers to help-seeking to understand the barriers this format of treatment may help to address. Methods Secondary analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of a telephone-delivered intervention for alcohol use problems. Latent class analysis (LCA) identified participant profiles according to self-reported barriers to alcohol treatment. Results Participants’ (344) mean age was 39.86 years (SD = 11.36, 18–73 years); 51.45% were male. Despite high alcohol problem severity (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test: mean = 21.54, SD = 6.30; 63.37% probable dependence), multiple barriers to accessing treatment were endorsed (mean = 5.64, SD = 2.41), and fewer than one-third (29.36%) had previously accessed treatment. LCA revealed a two-class model: a ‘low problem recognition’ class (43.32%) endorsed readiness-for-change and attitudinal barriers; a ‘complex barriers’ class (56.68%) endorsed stigma, structural, attitudinal and readiness-to-change barriers, with complex barrier class membership predicted by female sex (adjusted OR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.28, 0.72) and higher psychological distress (adjusted OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.08, 1.18). Conclusion The majority of people accessing this telephone-delivered intervention were new to treatment, yet had high alcohol problem severity. Two distinct profiles emerged, for which telephone interventions may overcome barriers to care and tailored approaches should be explored (e.g. increasing problem awareness, reducing psychological distress). Public health strategies to address stigma, and raise awareness about the low levels of drinking that constitute problem alcohol use, are needed to increase help-seeking.

Integrated care – panacea or white elephant? A review of integrated care approaches in Australia over the past two decades

“…Importantly, research involving longer and more structured interventions demonstrates that appropriately trained clinicians can deliver effective integrated treatment without requiring co-location of services, organisational change or large-scale efforts to build workforce capacity. For example, the results of the R2C and inroads trials demonstrate how online and telephone-based interventions can be used to deliver integrated care in accessible formats that are easily scalable and likely to be sustainable long-term (Grigg et al , 2022; Stapinski et al , 2021). In doing so, they highlight opportunities for effective treatment that eliminate many of the financial and organisational challenges accompanying integration at the service and/or system level.…”

Emakumeak eta alkohol-kontsumoa: estigmaren kalteak

“…Aukeratutako ikerketen artean aldakortasun handia aurkitu da haien laginaren tamainan. Hain zuzen, hiru ikerketak 150 pertsonatik beherako lagina dute (Brown et al, 2015;Vilus eta Perich, 2021;Wiechelt eta Sales, 2001), sei ikerketak 200 eta 600 artekoa (Braun et al, 2023;Tomás-Dols et al, 2007;Green, 2011;Grigg et al, 2023;Melchior et al, 2019;Zemore et al, 2009) eta beste bi ikerketak 600 pertsonatik gorakoa (Ransome et al, 2017;Small et al, 2010).…”

“…Generoari dagokionez, lau ikerketaren lagina soilik emakumez osatuta dago (Braun et al, 2023;Melchior et al, 2019;Ransome et al, 2017;Wiechelt eta Sales, 2001) eta beste zazpi lanetan emakumez eta gizonez (Brown et al, 2015;Tomás-Dols et al, 2007;Green, 2011;Grigg et al, 2023;Small et al, 2010;Vilus eta Perich, 2021;Zemore et al, 2009). Generoaren araberako parte-hartzaileei dagokienez, lagin mistoko bi ikerketatan, emakumeak gizonen bikoitza izan dira (Green, 2011;Vilus eta Perich, 2021).…”

“…Lau ikerketatan gizonen kopurua emakumeen bikoitza zen (E = % 26.30, G % 73.70; E = % 32.6, G = % 67.4; E = % 25.6, G = % 74.4; E = % 23.8, G = % 76.2) (Brown et al, 2015;Tomás-Dols et al, 2007;Small et al, 2010;Zemore et al, 2009). Ikerketa bakar batean lagina parekatua izan zen generoaren arabera (E = % 48.55; G = % 51.55) (Grigg et al, 2023). Beraz, lagin mistoko ikerketetan, orokorrean gizonek presentzia handiagoa izan dute.…”

“…Adinari helduz, ikerketetan laginaren gehiengoa 30 eta 45 urte artean egon da (Braun et al, 2023;Brown et al, 2015;Tomás-Dols et al, 2007;Green, 2011;Grigg et al, 2023;Melchior et al, 2019;Small et al, 2010;Vilus eta Perich, 2021;Wiechelt eta Sales, 2001).…”