Impact of a primary care training program on the prevention and management of unhealthy alcohol use: A quasi-experimental study

•Motivational interview increase PC providers´ communication skills on alcohol use.•Training program represents an outstanding strategy to promote PC providers´ knowledge on alcohol use.•Clinical interview skills enhance physician-patient relationship regarding alcohol consumption.•Training activities targeted to PC providers improves their attitude to address unhealthy alcohol use. To assess the impact of a training program targeted to Primary Care (PC) professionalson the acquisition of communication skills, attitudes, and knowledge about the prevention and management of unhealthy alcohol use. A quasi-experimental, pre- and post-intervention study was performed in PC centers of Cordoba (Spain). Family doctors, residents and nurses participated in the study. The intervention was based on a motivational interviewing training program, which consisted in a workshop on learning skills, attitudes and knowledge about the alcohol management. PC providers were videotaped with a standardized patient in order to check the clinical and communication competencies acquired. A descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analysis was carried out (p