Dr Sahir Hussain is a Senior Research Associate at Lancaster University, where his research aims to reduce health inequalities. His current project focuses on the co-development of alcohol toolkits for better screening and interventions for people from minoritised backgrounds. He is passionate about collaborative science and his expertise spans alcohol use research, mental health, and neurobehavioral psychology. As founder of the Smooth Brain Society podcast and Senior Editor of Europe’s Journal of Psychology, he also champions accessible science communication.

Abstract

Synthesising public involvement with literature to understand barriers and facilitators of assessing alcohol use in a culturally adapted way

The aim of this study was to combine research evidence from existing literature reviews with co-production working with people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds with lived experience of mental health problems to develop recommendations for practice around identification and provision of alcohol support for minoritised ethnic groups using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). The study employed a novel co-production design which included engagement with two Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) groups along with three scoping reviews covering the existing literature reviews around alcohol screening, alcohol interventions and cultural competency. The findings from the reviews and outcomes from the PPI and PAG discussions were mapped onto the TDF to identify key behavioural domains relevant to skills, screening, and access. Key barriers identified by the PPI group included stigma, concerns about confidentiality and language barriers. Facilitators included culturally aware staff, trust-building, compassionate communication, and community-based outreach. Scoping reviews emphasized a need for culturally adapted screening tools and interventions, with limited but promising evidence supporting effectiveness of tailored approaches. Together underscoring the importance of both individual and system level factors when developing culturally sensitive interventions. Culturally sensitive approaches to alcohol screening and brief interventions are necessary to improve disclosure and access to support among minoritised ethnic groups. Incorporating lived experience through PPI and considering intersecting identities can guide the development of equitable and effective support services in mental health contexts.