Evaluating web-based training for employee assistance program counselors on the use of screening and brief intervention for at-risk alcohol use

Abstract

This article assesses a Web-based training for Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counselors on screening and brief intervention (SBI) for at-risk alcohol use. The training had four learning objectives: (1) increase counselors' awareness and sense of importance of at-risk drinking as a health behavior, (2) increase their sense of preparedness to deliver the brief intervention, (3) increase their sense of self-efficacy in helping clients with health behaviors, including at-risk drinking, and (4) increase their perceptions of the efficacy of counselors in general in dealing with health behaviors, including at-risk drinking. Results show increases in counselors' recognition of health behaviors as important, in their sense of preparedness to help clients with health behaviors, and in their sense of self-efficacy in dealing with health behaviors but no change in counselors' perceptions of the efficacy of counselors in general. These results suggest that Web-based training is an effective mode for teaching EAP counselors.