Good advice given by a health worker in a clinic can save lives. On 15 November, WHO/Europe will launch a new BRIEF manual that explains how brief interventions in primary care can reduce the risks of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which account for 90% of deaths in the WHO European Region.
The manual “BRIEF: Integrated brief interventions for noncommunicable disease risk factors in primary care” developed by the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD Office) is an innovative toolkit for health professionals and decision-makers. The uptake of these interventions in the WHO European Region remains low, and the manual aims to change this situation.
Brief interventions: reducing major risk factors
The BRIEF manual emphasizes an integrated approach to brief interventions, addressing the physiological risk factor of increased body mass index (BMI) and the major behavioural risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy eating and physical inactivity.
The manual also provides specific advice for the actual delivery of brief interventions by primary care providers or multidisciplinary teams in clinics and other health facilities.
Launch event: webinar and expert discussion
To present the BRIEF manual, the NCD Office together with the WHO European Centre for Primary Health Care will hold a hybrid webinar in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Participants from all over the world are welcome to connect to the webinar online.
The event will provide an excellent opportunity to discuss with primary care professionals, health managers and key experts in the field how to introduce and scale up an integrated and patient-centred approach to brief intervention delivery in primary care.