ABSTRACT
Background: Nurses are the largest profession within the health workforce. Limited available literature suggests high rates of alcohol consumption may occur among Australian nurses. Aim: To determine the prevalence of high-risk alcohol consumption among Australian nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional national survey was distributed via professional groups and social media to Australian nurses. Participants provided demographic information and completed a modified Perceptions of Work Stress Scale. The 10-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used to explore nurses' self-reported alcohol consumption. Surveys were conducted between July and October 2021. Findings: The overall prevalence of risky drinking was 36.9% among participants;26.1% at risky or hazardous levels, 5.6% at the high-risk or harmful level, and 5.1% at high-risk, almost certainly dependent levels. Correlations between work setting, stress, and risky alcohol consumption revealed nurses working in Emergency Departments were most likely to report higher perceived stress and AUDIT scores. Discussion: The prevalence of high-risk alcohol consumption among Australian nurses was higher than previously reported. The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a potential factor contributing to increased stress and alcohol consumption among Australian nurses. Conclusion: Given the current vulnerability in the nursing workforce, tailored interventions are urgently required to address high-risk alcohol consumption. © 2023 Australian College of Nursing Ltd
ABSTRACT
Many young adults in the United States (U.S.) moved from college accommodations to live with their parents/family during the Spring 2020 semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While alcohol consumption fluctuates during a typical semester among students, the impact of the sudden changes stemming from the pandemic on students' alcohol consumption patterns is unclear. To examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on college student alcohol consumption while accounting for legal drinking age and living situation. Data were collected from students (n = 302) at a large, northeastern U.S. university at the beginning and end of the of the 2019 and 2020 Spring semesters via an online survey that assessed socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, race/ethnicity, living situation) and alcohol consumption using the daily drinking questionnaire. Data were analyzed using a 2 (cohort group: COVID-19 vs. normal) × 2 (age group: above 21 vs. under 21) × 2 (time: beginning vs. end of the semester) mixed model ANOVA. There was a significant three-way interaction. Students over the legal drinking age impacted by the pandemic demonstrated a drastic decrease in alcohol consumption by the end of the semester compared to those under normal circumstances. Change in living situation as a result of the pandemic drastically impacted the alcohol consumption patterns of students over the legal drinking age. Suggestions for future research on the continuing effects of the pandemic on students are discussed.