| Description | This framework was developed by a cross agency Alcohol Evidence Group and sets out existing and planned work, together with priority areas for new research should budgets allow, to inform alcohol policy development in Scotland. |
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| ISBN | (Web Only) |
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| Official Print Publication Date | |
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| Website Publication Date | August 14, 2007 |
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Scottish Alcohol Research Framework
This document is also available in PDF (124KB).
Introduction
Alcohol Evidence Group Membership
Analysing Current Patterns and Trends in Alcohol Consumption in Scotland
Analysing Current Patterns and Trends in Alcohol-Related Harm
Culture, Media and Marketing
Prevention and Education
Provision of Treatment and Support Services
Protection and Controls
The Scottish Government is committed to developing interventions which are informed by a strong evidence base. There is a considerable and growing body of UK and international research on the extent and nature of alcohol problems and the effectiveness of harm reduction interventions. Traditionally new alcohol-related research in Scotland might have been commissioned by a wide range of bodies, including the Scottish Government, Information Services Division (ISD), Health Scotland and Alcohol Focus Scotland. This had the potential for overlap or omission.
The Alcohol Evidence Group (AEG) was established in 2006 to oversee the development of a co-ordinated alcohol evidence base in which existing research (from Scotland, the rest of the UK and internationally) was consolidated and gaps identified. The group's remit includes helping to ensure that the development and implementation of government policy on alcohol-related health, criminal justice and wider social issues is supported by research by agreed parties. Membership of the Group is given below.
The Scottish Alcohol Research Framework, first published in August 2007, was compiled by NHS Health Scotland and the Scottish Government with advice from the Alcohol Evidence Group. The framework sets out existing (or recently completed) and planned work, together with priority areas for new research should budgets allow. It identifies research to directly support policy development. The Scottish Government recognises that individuals and organisations will have other priorities and will wish to undertake research in other areas.
The framework was informed by a scoping of the research literature carried out by NHS Health Scotland in 2006-7. This review, which built upon a 2002-3 analysis of the gaps in research knowledge, identified current research and research gaps in the alcohol evidence base. A draft framework was circulated to stakeholders (including ADATs, health professionals, Community Health Partnerships, the alcohol industry, and academic researchers) for consultation in March 2007. The literature review and a summary of current research, which were published in March 2007 as part of the stakeholder consultation process, are available online at http://www.alcoholinformation.isdscotland.org
The framework will be regularly updated to reflect progress on existing projects and to highlight new areas of planned research.
First published: August 2007
Last updated: June 2008
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Alcohol Evidence Group membership (as at July 2007)
Alison Douglas: Head of Alcohol Misuse, Scottish Government (Chair)
Sally Haw: Principal Public Health Advisor, NHS Health Scotland
Laurence Gruer: Director of Public Health Science, NHS Health Scotland
Lorna Jackson: Substance Misuse Programme Manager, ISD, NHS National Services Scotland
Lesley Graham: Associate Specialist (Public Health), ISD, NHS National Services Scotland
Jack Law: Chief Executive, Alcohol Focus Scotland
Maggie Watts: Chair, Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams (SAADAT)
Peter Rice: Consultant Psychiatrist, Tayside Alcohol Problems Service
Karen MacNee: Senior Principal Researcher, Health Finance Directorate, Scottish Government
Iain MacAllister: Principal Researcher, Alcohol Misuse, Scottish Government
Donna MacKinnon: Principal Researcher, Justice and Communities Directorate, Scottish Government
Diane Strachan: Alcohol Misuse, Scottish Government
Denise Coia: Principal Medical Officer, Chief Medical Officer Directorate, Scottish Government
Peter Craig: Research Manager, Chief Medical Officer Directorate, Scottish Government
Beatrice Cant: Research Manager, Chief Medical Officer Directorate, Scottish Government
Ian Grant: Principal Researcher, ISD Scottish Public Health Observatory Programme
Sonnda Catto: Survey Manager, Scottish Public Health Observatory
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Analysing Current Patterns and Trends in Alcohol Consumption in Scotland
Research in shaded boxes are existing projects, or recently completed studies. The remainder are identified gaps. Priority gaps are shown in bold. For projects yet to commence, the start date and commissioning/funding body are indicative only.
1. Analysing current patterns and trends in alcohol consumption in Scotland
| Focus | Purpose | Method | Who by | Start date / status | Funding |
1.1 | Limitations of survey data | To improve understanding of limitations of survey data on alcohol consumption. | Review of surveys and expert working group | Health Scotland | Published May 2008 | Health Scotland |
1.2 | Recording of drug and alcohol use in pregnancy | To audit current practice in recording of drug and alcohol misuse in pregnancy via SMR02. | Analysis of SMR02 data. Interviews with staff from main maternity units | Scottish Centre for Social Research | Fieldwork completed; consultation event held June 2008 Final report autumn 2008 | Health Scotland & Scottish Government |
1.3 | Pregnant women | To determine patterns of alcohol consumption in pregnancy amongst women in Scotland. To explore the understanding of the risks from consuming alcohol amongst women. To identify effective interventions to reduce alcohol consumption before pregnancy, during pregnancy and post pregnancy. | Systematic literature review. Analysis of epidemiological and survey data. Interviews with target groups | PhD Studentship | 2007 Student appointed, Liverpool University | Scottish Government / Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) |
1.4 | Homeless people | To explore existing routine data on homelessness and drug and alcohol use. | Pilot analyses of routine data sets on homelessness and drug and alcohol use | Dr C Dibben, Mr IM Atherton, Professor J Docherty, Dr A Baldacchino | Published 2007 | Scottish Government |
1.5 | Infants and young children | Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) study - a longitudinal study of two age cohorts: 5000 babies aged 10 months; and 3000 toddlers aged 34 months). To generate a better understanding of the impact of maternal alcohol consumption on infants and young children. | Secondary analysis of data | Scottish Centre for Social Research & Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, University of Edinburgh. | 2005 Second sweep of findings published February 2008 Survey on-going | Scottish Government |
1.6 | Alcohol consumption and drinking patterns | Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) 2008-2011 is a large-scale household survey which provides robust data on health and heath-related behaviours of people living in Scotland. To monitor and better understand alcohol consumption and drinking patterns in Scotland (including amongst population sub-groups). To provide consumption estimates at Health Board level every 4 years. | National household survey | Scottish Centre for Social Research | Fieldwork commenced January 2008 First annual report due summer 2009 | Scottish Government |
1.7 | Alcohol consumption among young people | Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) - biennial survey of young people in Scotland. To monitor national trends in alcohol consumption and drinking patterns among 13 and 15 year olds. | National survey of young people | Managed by ISD; under commission | SALSUS 2006 national and local reports published 2007 SALSUS 2008 and 2010 under commission | Scottish Government |
1.8 | Improving estimates of alcohol consumption / sales | To identify and collate data on alcohol consumption from industry & trade sources at a Scotland level. To compare sales data with survey findings. | Consultation with alcohol industry and retail trade; purchase of industry sales data | Scottish Government Alcohol Industry Partnership | Alcohol sales data published June 2008; data to be supplied bi-annually | Scottish Government |
1.9 | Improving estimates of alcohol consumption | To identify what data on alcohol consumption can be derived from Customs & Excise data at a Scotland level. | Consultation with Customs and Excise | ISD (Substance Misuse Programme) | Discussions with Customs and Excise indicate that data is not available at Scottish level. No further action | ISD |
1.10 | Alcohol purchasing patterns and location of consumption | To determine the proportion of alcohol consumed at home and on licensed premises. To determine patterns and location of consumption in different population sub-groups. | Alcohol industry and retail trade data Qualitative and quantitative research | Scottish Government | 2008 Alcohol industry sales provide estimates of the amount and type of alcohol sold in on and off sales | Scottish Government |
1.11 | Longitudinal data needs | To identify longitudinal data on alcohol available across the UK and to identify gaps in Scottish data. | Scoping of longitudinal data sources in the UK | Scottish Government | 3 month PhD placement to commence in Sept. 2008 | Scottish Government |
1.12 | Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) and recent immigrant groups | To understand patterns of alcohol consumption in BME groups and recent immigrant groups. | Scoping of available Scottish data and data analysis | ISD (Substance Misuse Programme) | 2007 Draft report circulated to AEG for comment (May 2008) | ISD |
1.13 | Other specific groups:
Young adults (16-25); women; adults in middle years; older adults; disability groups | To assess feasibility of conducting sub-group analyses of Scottish survey data on alcohol consumption. To conduct appropriate sub-group analyses. | Scoping of available Scottish data and data analysis | ISD (Substance Misuse Programme) | 2009 | ISD |
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2. Analysing Current Patterns and Trends in Alcohol-Related Harm
2.1 | Alcohol attributable fractions | To develop alcohol attributable fractions to provide estimates of alcohol attributable mortality and hospital discharges. To estimate the burden of alcohol-related disease. To determine the links between serious alcohol-attributable disease and deprivation.??? | Literature Review and modelling of SHeS data | ISD (Substance Misuse Programme) / ScotPHO | Final report due September 2008 | ISD |
2.2 | Drug injectors with HCV | To determine hospital utilisation, morbidity and mortality related to diagnosed HCV infection. To determine the association between alcohol and diagnosed HCV infection among injectors in Scotland. | Record linkage study | Sharon Hutchinson, Health Protection Scotland | 2006 Due for completion February 2009 | Scottish Government |
2.3 | Epidemiology of liver disease in Scotland | To investigate patterns and rising trends of liver disease in Scotland in the last 20 years | Secondary analysis of mortality and hospital discharge data | ISD (ScotPHO) | Work started in 2007, completion date March 2009 | ISD |
2.4 | Children of problem drinkers | To develop a methodology and estimate the prevalence of children living with problem drinking. To determine the needs of children of problem drinkers (including children & young people's own drinking). | Review of data sources and statistical modelling. Needs assessment. | To be commissioned | 2008/9 New estimates of the number of children of problem drinkers included in alcohol consultation paper. | To be confirmed |
2.5 | Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) | To establish a Scottish survey / study of the incidence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). | Survey / study | To be Commissioned | 2008/9 | To be confirmed |
2.6 | Alcohol and crime | To identify available data on alcohol and crime. To explore the relationship between alcohol, crime, public disorder and deprivation. | Review of available data sources and data analysis | ISD (Substance Misuse Programme) / Scottish Government | Work in progress | ISD |
2.7 | Alcohol related brain damage (ARBD) | To estimate the incidence and prevalence of ARBD in Scotland. | To be determined | To be commissioned | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
2.8 | Brain damage in substance misusers | The role of multiple risk factors in organic brain disease in substance misusers (trauma, cerebro- vascular disease, Alzheimer's disease). | To be determined | To be commissioned | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
2.9 | Alcohol and sexual risk | To determine the links between alcohol consumption and sexual risk taking in schoolchildren and adults and any interactions with socioeconomic and geographical factors. To develop indicators for measuring prevalence of sexual risk in the general population. | Quantitative and qualitative research | Scottish Government / To be commissioned | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
2.10 | Alcohol-attributable hospital costs | To model alcohol-attributable hospital costs using aetiological fractions and results from treasury study of hospital costs disease groups. | Statistical modelling | ISD | To start on completion of Alcohol Attributable Fraction Project (see 2.1) | ISD |
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3. Culture Media and Marketing
| Focus | Purpose | Method | Who by | Start date / status | Funding |
3.1 | Drinking cultures | To describe drinking cultures in Scotland. To inform the development of mass media communication and other alcohol interventions. | A rapid review of drinking cultures in Scotland, UK and 6 other countries. Qualitative study of drinking cultures in selected Scottish communities. | Susan MacAskill, Institute for Social Marketing, University of Stirling | Three reports published June 2008 | Health Scotland |
3.2 | Attitudes to drinking alcohol | To monitor attitudes towards alcohol consumption in the general population. | Module of questions in the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey | Scottish Centre for Social Research | Report due to be published Summer 2008 | Scottish Government |
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4. Prevention and Education
| Focus | Purpose | Method | Who by | Start date / status | Funding |
4.1 | School-based programmes | To determine the nature and effectiveness of drugs education practice in Scottish schools. | National survey | Martine Stead, Institute for Social Marketing, University of Stirling | 2004 Report published February 2007 | Scottish Government |
4.2 | Community-based programmes - Focus on Alcohol Angus | To assist Angus Community Planning Partnership develop an integrated outcome focused plan for alcohol. To evaluate the model of approach developed by Focus on Alcohol Angus (FoAA). To assess whether the model is transferable to other local areas in Scotland. | Consultancy support and process evaluation | Craigforth Consulting | Commissioned 2007, report due September 2008. | Health Scotland and Scottish Government |
4.3 | Working people | To audit workplace policies in Scotland against best practice. To develop comprehensive and flexible workplace policy | Review of workplace policies; development of new guidance | Scottish Government Alcohol Industry Partnership | Workplace policy developed; workshop available to employers | Scottish Government Alcohol Industry Partnership |
4.4 | Community based programme - Fife geographical pilot | To design, develop and implement a series of interventions within a geographically focused pilot area. To evaluate the success of the pilot in tackling alcohol misuse. | A range of interventions to be developed, in addition and complementary to existing local initiatives | Scottish Government Alcohol Industry Partnership; local area | 2008 | Various |
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5. Provision of Treatment and Support Services
| Focus | Purpose | Method | Who by | Start date / status | Funding |
5.1 | Homeless people | To investigate the effectiveness of substance misuse services in reducing the level of homelessness. | Evidence review and mapping exercise | University of York | 2007 Report due August 2008 | Scottish Government |
5.2 | Alcohol treatment capacity | To determine the prevalence of problematic drinking and map the proportion entering and/or requiring treatment against the configuration of existing services. | Statistical modelling / qualitative and quantitative research | Figure 8 Consulting (managed by SAADAT) | 2007 Report due October 2008 | Scottish Government |
5.3 | Primary care settings | To review awareness and implementation of the SIGN 74 guideline, identify examples of good practice, and support required to further the implementation of the guidance. | Qualitative and quantitative research | Figure 8 Consulting | 2007 Published May 2008 | Health Scotland |
5.4 | Brief Interventions - evidence of effectiveness | To consider the models and effectiveness of alcohol brief interventions being delivered in primary and secondary care. | Mapping study | Scottish Government | 2007 Review of effectiveness of BIs carried out prior to establishment of HEAT target | Scottish Government |
5.5 | Brief interventions-criminal justice | Two site pilot to determine the effectiveness of delivery of brief interventions in (i) short term prisoners (ii) those serving community sentences | Two site random control studies | To be commissioned (jointly by Health Scotland and SPS) | 2008 | Scottish Government |
5.6 | Brief interventions - other settings | To consider the effectiveness of brief interventions in other settings (e.g. dental, workplace, etc.). To support / evaluate the delivery of brief interventions in other settings. | Review of evidence; evaluation | To be confirmed | 2008/9 | To be confirmed |
5.7 | Designated Places of Safety | To review existing literature on Designated Places of Safety schemes, map existing DP schemes, establish the number of people that could potentially benefit from DPS, establish the key elements of successful approaches. | Literature review, analysis of data, mapping exercise | Under commission | June 2008 | Scottish Government |
5.8 | Pregnant women | To identify effective interventions for reducing alcohol consumption in pregnancy. | To be confirmed | To be commissioned | 2009 | To be confirmed |
5.9 | Patients at risk of developing Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome | To determine the potential role of long-term thiamine supplementation in improving the outcomes for patients who are at risk of developing Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome. | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
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6. Protection and Controls
| Focus | Purpose | Method | Who by | Start date / status | Funding |
6.1 | Underage sales | To evaluate test purchasing pilot for illegal sales of alcohol to children under the age of 18. | Qualitative research | Scottish Centre for Social Research | 2006 Published March 2007 | Scottish Government |
6.2 | Off sales and problem drinking | To determine the relationship between off-sales and problem drinking in Scotland. | Interviews and observations Literature review | Human Factors Analysts | 2006 Published June 2007 | Scottish Government |
6.3 | Alcohol misuse strategy -monitoring and evaluation | To establish a monitoring and evaluation framework to effectively measure the impact of the Scottish Government's long-term approach to tackling alcohol misuse. To consider data requirements and collate baseline data as required. To identify gaps in the available evidence and commission new research / data collections as necessary. | Establishment of a monitoring and evaluation framework, including a review of existing data and data gaps. | Health Scotland and Scottish Government, with advice from AEG | 2008 | Health Scotland and Scottish Government |
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