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Improving alcohol health literacy and reducing alcohol consumption: recommendations for Germany

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Gill Rowlands

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Background: Although the detrimental health effects of alcohol are well established, consumption levels are high in many high-income countries such as Germany. Improving alcohol health literacy presents an integrated approach to alcohol prevention and an important complement to alcohol policy. Our aim was to identify and prioritize measures to enhance alcohol health literacy and hence to reduce alcohol consumption, using Germany as an example.Methods: A series of recommendations for improving alcohol health literacy were derived from a review of the literature and subsequently rated by five experts. Recommendations were rated according to their likely impact on enhancing (a) alcohol health literacy and (b) reducing alcohol consumption. Inter-rater agreement was assessed using a two-way intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC).Results: Eleven recommendations were established for three areas of action: (1) education and information, (2) health care system, and (3) alcohol control policy. Education and information measures were rated high to increase alcohol health literacy but low to their impact on alcohol consumption, while this pattern was reversed for alcohol control policies. The ratings showed good agreement (ICC: 0.85-0.88).Conclusions: Improving alcohol health literacy and reducing alcohol consumption should be considered complementary and become part of a comprehensive alcohol strategy to curb the health, social, and economic burden of alcohol.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Manthey J, Kokole D, Riedel-Heller S, Rowlands G, Schäfer I, Schomerus G, Soellner R

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Addiction Science and Clinical Practice

Year: 2023

Volume: 18

Print publication date: 02/05/2023

Online publication date: 09/05/2023

Acceptance date: 24/04/2023

Date deposited: 30/04/2024

ISSN (electronic): 1940-0640

Publisher: BMC

URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-023-00383-0

DOI: 10.1186/s13722-023-00383-0

Data Access Statement: The responses of the experts collected and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on request


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
) North East and North Cumbria (NIHR200173)
f UKE – Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
National Institute for Health Research

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