Introducing the European Prevention Curriculum (EUPC) in Austria – findings from a pilot implementation

Background: The European Prevention Curriculum (EUPC) is a European initiative to promote professional and quality‐assured substance use prevention. Although the course is standardised, implementation of the work currently proceeds via independent national projects and there is no written guidance on how to start a national EUPC project. This can be challenging for those interested in starting EUPC in their own country. It is crucial to share experiences of how national EUPC projects are organised. We report on the first year of EUPC project implementation in Austria, as part of a joint thematic session on “EUPC implementation experiences”.

Methods: The mixed‐methods evaluation focused on the appropriateness and feasibility of a long‐term implementation of EUPC in Austria. Participants in the trial run of the 2-day EUPC basic training (n=16, 84% of 19 participants) completed feedback questionnaires and provided structured verbal feedback. Debriefing was undertaken with the EUPC project team, trainers and funding bodies. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, qualitative data were summarised narratively.

Results: The pilot was jointly undertaken by the Austrian National Public Health Institute (Addiction Competence Centre / Austrian REITOX Focal Point, funded by Austrian Health Promotion Fund) and the national coordinating body of provincial addiction prevention units (Österreichische ARGE Suchtvorbeugung), with support from the German EUPC team. Further stakeholders (e.g. ministry departments, social insurance funds) gave inputs as participants in the training. Creating a common vision for the project was challenging, given differing needs and responsibilities of involved institutions, but was achieved through open dialogue and a shared commitment to complying with European quality standards.

In 2023, 19 professionals from prevention and health promotion were newly certified in accordance with the EUPC basic module in Austria. As of October 2023, there was at least one employee certified at every provincial addiction prevention unit. Participants in the trial run recommended EUPC for continuation in Austria, praising the potential for increased professionalisation, quality assurance and evidence‐based working, as well as for exchanges of perspectives, networking and a common professional language.

Conclusions: The EUPC basic training was successfully implemented in Austria and its continuation is recommended. Prevention infrastructures already existing in Austria were used to create a suitable system for project coordination and organisation. Long-term implementation will require secure funding, structures for involving new trainers, and strengthened collaboration with EUPC teams in other countries. Our results will inform future EUPC activities in Austria, but they can also support further development of EUPC at the European level and in other countries.