Health Outcomes | Alcohol & Substance Misuse Evaluation Measures
Health outcomes measures for alcohol and substance misuse1-5
The effectiveness of alcohol and substance misuse programs depends on the intensity of program effort and the use of multiple interventions. A rule of thumb is that the more programs implemented together as a package or campaign, the more successful the interventions will be.
Baseline
- Determine levels of employee self-report of excess alcohol consumption or substance misuse from employee health survey or health risk appraisal.
- The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholismexternal icon uses the following definition of excess alcohol use:
- “Alcohol misuse” is excess daily consumption (more than 4 drinks per day for men or more than 3 drinks per day for women), or excess total consumption (more than 14 drinks per week for men or more than 7 drinks per week for women), or both
- The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholismexternal icon uses the following definition of excess alcohol use:
- Determine baseline percentage of employees who have a mental health condition that may be co-occurring with misuse, such as depression or manic-depressive disorder
- Determine levels of diagnostic and treatment procedures for alcohol and substance misuse from health care and pharmaceutical claims data
- Determine employee knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about alcohol and substance misuse◦Evaluate employees’ current knowledge of the health risks and threats related to alcohol and substance misuse
- Assess employee awareness of existing workplace alcohol and substance misuse programs, policies and benefits
Process
- Periodic repeats of baseline measures
Outcome
- Assess changes in the percentage of employees who report excess alcohol consumption or substance misuse
- Determine changes in levels of diagnostic and treatment procedures related to alcohol and substance misuse from health care and pharmaceutical claims data
- Assess changes in employee knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about alcohol and substance misuse
- Measure changes in employee knowledge of alcohol and substance misuse health risks and threats
- Assess changes in employee awareness of existing workplace alcohol and substance misuse programs, policies, and benefits
1. Campbell KP, Lanza A, Dixon R, Chattopadhyay S, Molinari N, Finch RA, editors. A Purchaser’s Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: Moving Science into Coverage. Washington, DC: National Business Group on Health; 2006.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Framework for program evaluation in public health. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1999;48(No. RR-11): 1-40.
3. Goetzel RZ, Ozminkowski RJ. Program evaluation. In: O’Donnell MP, editor. Health promotion in the workplace, 3rd edition. Albany, NY: Delmar Thomson Learning; 2002. p 116-165.
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [Internet]. Washington, DC: [cited 2009 Nov 19]. Drug-Free Workplace Kit: Evaluate the Program: [about 4 screens].
5. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Helping patients who drink too much: a clinician’s guide, updated 2005 edition. Rockville: National Institutes of Health; 2005 [cited 2008 Dec 5]. Available from: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov pdf icon[PDF – 473K]external icon