1. Experience from Finland on early detection and brief intervention for combating alcohol problems
Ms Leena Heljälä, Researcher, Project Coordinator
15 November 2007, Vilnius, Lithuania

2. Alcohol use, working men (Work and health in Finland 2006, FIOH)
Experience from Finland / FIOH / Leena Heljälä /

3. Alcohol use, working women (Work and health in Finland 2006, FIOH)
Experience from Finland / FIOH / Leena Heljälä /

4. Occupational Health Services (OHS) in Finland
750 OHS units
2600 nurses and 2600 physicians
OHS covers 1,82 million employees
3,5 million visits /year
health checks
2,87 million other visits
Experience from Finland / FIOH / Leena Heljälä /

5. Brief Intervention Project in OHS 2004-2007
Brief Intervention Project in OHS started in 2004, and the project is targeted at the entire OHS personnel
Chief Physician Martti Kuokkanen, Project Coordinator Leena Heljälä, Researcher Hanna Jurvansuu
The objective is to increase brief interventions in occupational health settings
c 200 OHS units and more than 2200 OH doctors and OH nurses trained in
seminars, articles for OHS professionals, interviews to press and radio, www-pages in Finnish
cooperation with VAMP Project, Kaija Seppä, Mauri Aalto, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Experience from Finland / FIOH / Leena Heljälä /

6. Guidebook for OHS to identify and counsel hazardous drinkers
"Brief alcohol intervention in occupational health services"
(English version coming 12/2007)
Drinking Diary
Anderson, Gual, Colom (2005). Alcohol and Primary Health Care: Clinical Guidelines of Identification and Brief Interventions.
Summary published in Finnish 2006
Experience from Finland / FIOH / Leena Heljälä /

7. OHS in Finland 2004
A half of all Finnish OHS units had carried out brief alcohol interventions
However, the number of interventions (7100) was very small compared to all visits in OHS (3,5 mill.)
In practice there probably is more activity in EIBI, but it is not registered
Increase in screening (AUDIT) in OHS would help finding hazardous drinkers and lead to giving more brief interventions
Experience from Finland / FIOH / Leena Heljälä /

8. Towards early identification in OHS
It seems that in 2004 the focus in OHS was too much on treating alcohol problems instead on early identification and brief intervention
Increase in screening (AUDIT) in OHS would help finding hazardous drinkers => more brief interventions
=> less harms in the workplace
OHS could easily direct more towards primary prevention, both in health checks and other visits at OH nurses and OH doctors
OHS could also screen entire workplaces and then assess the need for preventive work in each workplace
Experience from Finland / FIOH / Leena Heljälä /

9. Alcohol and Occupational Health Project 2007-2010
Research and development project
'Alcohol and Occupational Health'
Basis: the needs of workplaces and OHS; their wishes for support and co-operation in their work to prevent alcohol-related problems at workplaces
Aim: to promote occupational health by preventing alcohol abuse
Funding: The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Government Work Safety Fund, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Experience from Finland / FIOH / Leena Heljälä /

10. Alcohol and Occupational Health Project
Research on co-operation needs and opportunities
to develop a model
for early intervention in the workplace and OHS
workplace is a good setting to prevent alcohol problems
good co-operation between workplace and occupational health services (OHS) is a great possibility for preventive work
brief interventions in occupational health settings
preventive work at workplaces (edification, information, education)
Experience from Finland / FIOH / Leena Heljälä /

11. Co-operation in preventive work
Workplace culture
OHS culture
OHS contract
and strategy
Workplace
alcohol policy
Health promotion in OHS
workplace surveys,
health examinations,
medical treatment
Occupational safety,
well-being at work
PREVENTION
and EARLY
INTERVENTION
informing, counselling
and advising,
brief intervention,
special treatment
Superiors'
readiness
Personnel's
knowledge
Common
knowledge
Research facts
Experience from Finland / FIOH / Leena Heljälä /