Alcohol and older people: A systematic review of barriers, facilitators and context of drinking in older people and implications for intervention design.

<h4>Background</h4>Harmful alcohol consumption in older people has increased and effective approaches to understanding and addressing this societal concern are needed.<h4>Methods</h4>Systematic review of qualitative studies in older populations (55+ years) to identify barrier...

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Main Authors: Sarah Kelly, Olawale Olanrewaju, Andy Cowan, Carol Brayne, Louise Lafortune
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2018-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191189
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author Sarah Kelly
Olawale Olanrewaju
Andy Cowan
Carol Brayne
Louise Lafortune
author_facet Sarah Kelly
Olawale Olanrewaju
Andy Cowan
Carol Brayne
Louise Lafortune
author_sort Sarah Kelly
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Harmful alcohol consumption in older people has increased and effective approaches to understanding and addressing this societal concern are needed.<h4>Methods</h4>Systematic review of qualitative studies in older populations (55+ years) to identify barriers, facilitators or context of drinking in older people. Multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Social Sciences Citation Index, York Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, Cochrane database and grey literature) were searched from 2000 to February 2017 for studies in English, from OECD countries using MeSH terms and text words relating to alcohol combined with older age terms. Study quality was assessed using NICE methodology. The review is reported according to PRISMA.<h4>Results</h4>Drinking in older people is strongly linked to social engagement and there is scepticism about the health risks of alcohol. Drinking was also linked to difficulties such as social isolation, illness or bereavement. Alcohol can be related to routines and identity. However, older people often regulate their own drinking and strategies that emphasise the life experience of older people to drink wisely could be helpful.<h4>Conclusions</h4>To be effective societal approaches need to take into account contexts of risks for harmful drinking. The evidence supports a strong social role for drinking alcohol which should be taken into account in any policy development with the potential benefits of social participation for cognitive health. Approaches to reducing alcohol use in older people need to avoid paradoxical harm, with a need for approaches that reduce harm from drinking alcohol but retain the benefit of socialising.
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spelling doaj-art-6e933eb61a5e41308a56c1cd047ff5c42025-08-20T03:32:23ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-01131e019118910.1371/journal.pone.0191189Alcohol and older people: A systematic review of barriers, facilitators and context of drinking in older people and implications for intervention design.Sarah KellyOlawale OlanrewajuAndy CowanCarol BrayneLouise Lafortune<h4>Background</h4>Harmful alcohol consumption in older people has increased and effective approaches to understanding and addressing this societal concern are needed.<h4>Methods</h4>Systematic review of qualitative studies in older populations (55+ years) to identify barriers, facilitators or context of drinking in older people. Multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Social Sciences Citation Index, York Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, Cochrane database and grey literature) were searched from 2000 to February 2017 for studies in English, from OECD countries using MeSH terms and text words relating to alcohol combined with older age terms. Study quality was assessed using NICE methodology. The review is reported according to PRISMA.<h4>Results</h4>Drinking in older people is strongly linked to social engagement and there is scepticism about the health risks of alcohol. Drinking was also linked to difficulties such as social isolation, illness or bereavement. Alcohol can be related to routines and identity. However, older people often regulate their own drinking and strategies that emphasise the life experience of older people to drink wisely could be helpful.<h4>Conclusions</h4>To be effective societal approaches need to take into account contexts of risks for harmful drinking. The evidence supports a strong social role for drinking alcohol which should be taken into account in any policy development with the potential benefits of social participation for cognitive health. Approaches to reducing alcohol use in older people need to avoid paradoxical harm, with a need for approaches that reduce harm from drinking alcohol but retain the benefit of socialising.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191189
spellingShingle Sarah Kelly
Olawale Olanrewaju
Andy Cowan
Carol Brayne
Louise Lafortune
Alcohol and older people: A systematic review of barriers, facilitators and context of drinking in older people and implications for intervention design.
PLoS ONE
title Alcohol and older people: A systematic review of barriers, facilitators and context of drinking in older people and implications for intervention design.
title_full Alcohol and older people: A systematic review of barriers, facilitators and context of drinking in older people and implications for intervention design.
title_fullStr Alcohol and older people: A systematic review of barriers, facilitators and context of drinking in older people and implications for intervention design.
title_full_unstemmed Alcohol and older people: A systematic review of barriers, facilitators and context of drinking in older people and implications for intervention design.
title_short Alcohol and older people: A systematic review of barriers, facilitators and context of drinking in older people and implications for intervention design.
title_sort alcohol and older people a systematic review of barriers facilitators and context of drinking in older people and implications for intervention design
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191189
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