The effectiveness of digital training on screening, brief interventions, and referrals to treatment (SBIRT) for medical and health professionals: a systematic review

Blake, Holly; Chaplin, Wendy J; Gupta, Alisha; Coffey, Frank

Abstract

Introduction
The effectiveness of digital SBIRT training for improving knowledge/competence and confidence for health promotion, behavioural and/or health outcomes is not established. We aimed to conduct a systematic review examining the effectiveness of digital training for medical and health professionals on screening, brief interventions, and referrals to treatment (SBIRT), on knowledge of the health condition/behaviours, their treatments, and onwards referral to services, and/or changes in attitude, skills, or confidence to promote health.

Source of data
MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Epistemonikos, Google Scholar, and SCOPUS. Forty-two articles with 8,985 participants, published between January 2001 and April 2024, were included. There were 8 randomised controlled trials. Only one study was conducted in the UK.

Areas of agreement
Digital SBIRT training may increase knowledge/competence, confidence, and self-efficacy for SBIRT delivery.
Focus is primarily alcohol, tobacco and substance use. Delivery is mostly web-based programmes, digital patient simulation, or blended learning with a face-to-face component.

Areas of controversy
Comparison between studies is hampered by heterogeneity in study design, target populations, intervention design and content, comparator/control groups and outcomes assessed.

Growing points
Majority of studies were cohort educational web-based learning. Studies were mostly low quality (13 with low risk of bias). Outcomes were diverse, and often poorly reported.

Areas timely for developing research
More high-quality research is needed, including assessment of practice, behavioural and health outcomes. A standardised approach to assuring quality of delivery and testing is required. There is scope to develop, evaluate and implement SBIRT interventions in a broader range of health promotion areas.

Citation

Blake, H., Chaplin, W. J., Gupta, A., & Coffey, F. (in press). The effectiveness of digital training on screening, brief interventions, and referrals to treatment (SBIRT) for medical and health professionals: a systematic review. British Medical Bulletin,

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 10, 2025
• Deposit Date: Apr 11, 2025
• Journal: British Medical Bulletin.
• Print ISSN: 0007-1420
• Electronic ISSN: 1471-8391
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: Digital training, screening, brief interventions, referral to treatment, public health, systematic review.
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/47556610
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/bmb