Promoting person-centred care by GPs for people seeking help for Alcohol and Drug Use in Tasmania

The Objective

This project set out to build a robust evidence-base and gain a comprehensive understanding of the current Tasmanian healthcare landscape, empowering GPs to effectively identify, treat and manage alcohol and drug misuse among their patients.

Our Approach

The project focused on identifying barriers and enablers for general practitioners (GPs) in supporting patients affected by alcohol and other drug (AOD) use. Key components of the co-designed approach included:
• Conducting a rapid literature review to establish a strong evidence base.
• Engaging in targeted consultations with stakeholders, including GPs, AOD service providers, and sector support organisations.
• Administering an online survey to capture critical insights from GPs.
These efforts provided a detailed understanding of the current drivers and challenges within the sector. A workshop with the Primary Health Network (PHN) further refined the findings, ensuring that the strategic directions were practical, impactful, and aligned with community needs.

The Outcomes

A concise and actionable “Plan on a Page” was developed, outlining key issues, strategic actions, and their anticipated benefits. In addition, a high-level implementation plan was designed to enhance support for the primary health care workforce in the AOD space, fostering a more coordinated and effective response to patient needs.