Evaluating possible intended and unintended consequences of the implementation of minimum unit pricing (MUP) in Scotland: a natural experiment protocol

Katikireddi, S. V. et al. (2019) Evaluating possible intended and unintended consequences of the implementation of minimum unit pricing (MUP) in Scotland: a natural experiment protocol. BMJ Open, 9(6), e028482. (doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028482) (PMID:31221890) (PMCID:PMC6596978)

[img]
Preview
Text
174995.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

384kB

Abstract

Introduction: Scotland is the first country to carry out a national implementation of minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol. MUP aims to reduce alcohol-related harms, which are high in Scotland compared with Western Europe, and to improve health equalities. MUP is a minimum retail price per unit of alcohol. That approach targets high-risk alcohol users. This work is key to a wider evaluation that will determine whether MUP continues. There are three study components. Methods and analysis: Component 1 sampled an estimated 2800 interviewees at a baseline and each of two follow-ups from four Emergency Departments in Scotland and Northern England. Research nurses administered a standardised survey to assess alcohol consumption and the proportion of attendances that were alcohol-related. Component 2 covered six Sexual Health Clinics with similar timings and country allocation. A self-completion survey gathered information on potential unintended effects of MUP on alcohol source and drug use. Using a natural experiment design and repeated cross-sectional audit, difference between Scotland (intervention) and North England (control) will be tested for outcomes using regression adjusting for differences at baseline. Differential impacts by age, gender and socioeconomic position will be investigated. Component 3 used focus groups with young people and heavy drinkers and interviews with stakeholders before and after MUP implementation. The focus groups will allow exploration of attitudes, experiences and behaviours and the potential mechanisms by which impacts arise. The interviews will help characterise the implementation process. Ethics and dissemination: Study components 1 and 2 have been ethically approved by the NHS, and component 3 by the University of Stirling. Dissemination plans include peer-reviewed journal articles, presentations, policy maker briefings and, in view of high public interest and the high political profile of this flagship policy, communication with the public via media engagement and plain language summaries.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Hilton, Professor Shona and Forsyth, Mr Ross and Katikireddi, Professor Vittal and Millard, Dr Andrew and Bond, Professor Lyndal and McCartney, Professor Gerard and Leyland, Professor Alastair
Authors: Katikireddi, S. V., Beeston, C., Millard, A., Forsyth, R., Deluca, P., Drummond, C., Eadie, D., Graham, L., Hilton, S., Ludbrook, A., McCartney, G., Phillips, T., Stead, M., Ford, A., Bond, L., and Leyland, A. H.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
College of Social Sciences
College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
Journal Name:BMJ Open
Publisher:BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN:2044-6055
ISSN (Online):2044-6055
Published Online:20 June 2019
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 The Authors
First Published:First published in BMJ Open 9(6):e028482
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
3005320Evaluating possible intended and unintended consequences of the implementation of Minimum Unit Pricing of Alcohol in Scotland: a natural experimentAlastair LeylandNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR)11/3005/40HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
727651SPHSU Core Renewal: Measuring and Analysing Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health Research ProgrammeAlastair LeylandMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12017/13IHW - MRC/CSO SPHU
727671SPHSU Core Renewal: Informing Healthy Public Policy Research ProgrammePeter CraigMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12017/15IHW - MRC/CSO SPHU
Chief Scientist Office (CSO)SPHSU13
Chief Scientist Office (CSO)SPHSU15
699162Understanding the impacts of welfare policy on health: A novel data linkage studySrinivasa KatikireddiOffice of the Chief Scientist (CSO)SCAF/15/02IHW - MRC/CSO SPHU