- Aim
Alcohol-related illnesses represent a major burden and challenge to families and pose health risks for all involved. Therefore, health promotion attempts need to focus on these vulnerable families and identify effective interventions. A systematic review was conducted of approaches to health promotion and prevention and their effectiveness for families with addiction concerns. The
review focused on parental alcohol dependency.
Subject and methods
A systematic search of relevant databases was conducted, followed by a multistep screening process
and a narrative synthesis of results.
Results
A total of 20 studies were included that evaluated 14 intervention programmes. The main target group was children
with any form of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and their caregivers. The study sample was dominated by behavioural
approaches. The evidence base was heterogeneous. There was limited evidence of the effectiveness of combined counselling
and coaching interventions that aimed to strengthen psychosocial resources.
Conclusion
The robustness of the results is limited by the moderate methodological quality of the studies. Because of the
search strategy, which focused on studies with outcomes for parents with alcohol dependence, and the systematic review
methodology, almost all studies reviewed featured behavioural prevention interventions. Very few studies provided specific
information on the effectiveness of interventions for alcohol-dependent parents with a focus on environmental changes. The
selected approach provided a limited mapping of the field of interest. However, these review findings provide the foundation for an evidence-based approach to health promotion for families with parental alcohol dependence.