Exploration of Acceptability of Alcohol Interventions

The study will initially consists of a qualitative element assessing the acceptability of psychosocial interventions from the ITEP Manual, delivered by clinical staff, utilising a tailored version of the evidence-based, generic theoretical framework of acceptability questionnaire (Sekhon et al., 2022). This meets the ontological epistemology of a qualitative approach, based upon by its' focus on elicitation of subjective experience, perceptions and effort, in relation to the acceptability of delivering psychosocial interventions (Tombs and Strange, 2024). Assessing this is of particularly importance, as whilst the ITEP Manual has a strong evidence base for successful behaviour change, measures of acceptability regarding delivery are less well evidenced and have been postulated to influence clinicians' readiness to initiate behaviour change conversations, prospectively affecting patient outcomes (Bull et al., 2021).

The study will also investigate the correlation between demographic variables and engagement with a North West England, NHS-led, alcohol care service, amongst the patient population. Measures of interest will be based on existing, routinely captured data, including alcohol consumption (Audit-C/ AUDIT scores), and demographic variables of age, gender and socioeconomic status. Engagement can be defined in this case, as patient contact with the service, which might lead to referral to treatment and onward referral (although these latter variables are outside the scope of the current study). The social determinants of health are known to contribute to poorer outcomes, hence identification of those not engaging with such services, offers new opportunities to improve population health (Fraser et al., 2022; Hiam, 2025). Indeed, this philosophy aligns with the NHS 10-year plan which acknowledges the intolerable and detrimental health outcomes of polarised groups in UK society, with clear objectives set out to tackle inequalities in both access and outcomes (NHS, 2025).

It is anticipated that this study will contribute to our understanding of the importance of measuring the acceptability of delivering health behaviour interventions, amongst NHS clinical staff, delivering evidence-based psychosocial interventions. It is also anticipated the study will distinguish which social determinants of health, correlate to engagement with an NHS-based alcohol care service. It offers new opportunities to reflect on, and review current strategies for delivering on objectives, around ameliorating social inequalities within socially deprived areas (NHS, 2025). It may also highlight a need for more research to evaluate prospective improvement opportunities to reduce health inequalities, for those patient groups who are not engaging with such services.