Effectiveness evaluation of the strategies for reducing at-risk drinking among older people

• Grant number: 20/15215-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Psychological Treatment and Prevention
• Principal Investigator: Cleusa Pinheiro Ferri
• Grantee: Gabriela de Campos Almeida
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/19472-5 - Innovative interventions related to alcohol consumption problems in Brazil: search for new approaches aimed at an old public health issue, AP.TEM

Abstract

Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic is a major health crisis that presents major challenges for older adults and their families, support systems, caregivers, and medical and mental health care providers. Older adults are already vulnerable to the harmful effects of isolation, and in the face of the current crisis they can trigger or aggravate anxiety, depression, substance use and other psychiatric disorders. Unhealthy alcohol consumption is associated with a series of chronic medical conditions common in the elderly, in addition to compromising the immune system, increasing susceptibility to pneumonia and other infectious diseases. Therefore, minimizing alcohol consumption becomes urgent for the elderly during the pandemic.Objectives: To identify changes in the pattern of alcohol consumption of older adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic.Work Plan: A literature review will be carried out on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pattern of alcohol consumption among older adult, identifying possible effects in the medium and long term. A search will be conducted in different national and international databases since the beginning of the pandemic in order to select articles, reports and other published materials related to the following terms: COVID-19, alcohol drinking, alcohol-related disorders, aged, aging and mental health.The IC scholarship's role expected to participate in the following activities: collaboration in the literature review process; participation in weekly scientific meetings of the research group; collaboration in the construction of the database; analysis of previously collected data; participation in training meetings and team supervision to carry out the research; and collaboration in writing articles.