Attitudes and practices of health care providers at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital towards patients with alcohol related health conditions and related factors

Abstract

This is a descriptive cross sectional study conducted at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama. The study population consisted of medical and nursing officers and junior grade staff (attendants and labourers). Sample size computed was 165 for each category. Since the total eligible from each category ranged from 184 to 251, all were recruited to the study. Study instrument was an anonymous self administered questionnaire which was developed taking into consideration the duties of each of the categories. The survey instrument was divided into four major sections assessing subjects' socio demographic characteristics, attitudes, practices and. factors related to selected attitudes and practices. Attitudes and practices were scored and _ 50 percent and 50 percent were considered as the cut off to determine favorable and unfavorable attitudes and practices respectively. Number who responded to the survey were 171 out of 184 eligible medical officers, 237 out of 250 eligible nursing officers and 195 out of 251 eligible junior grade staff giving participation rates of 92.9 percent , 94.8 percent and 77.7 percent respectively for each category. Factors related to attitudes and practices: Medical officers: a significantly higher proportion of males (67 percent ) had favorable attitudes in comparison to females (45 percent ) with an OR of 0.4 (95 percent CI: 0.2 - 0.7). Nursing officers: a significantly higher proportion of those who approved of drinking alcohol (78.2 percent ) had favorable attitudes in comparison to those who disapproved (51. with an OR of 0.3 (95 percent CI: 0.1 - 0.8). Junior grade staff: a significantly higher proportion of those who did not have experience of alcoholic friends who had become a nuisance to the society (93 percent ) had favorable practices in comparison to those who had experience of such friends (75 percent ) with a OR of 4.3 (95 percent CI: 1.5 - 12.1).