Implementing alcohol screening and intervention in a family medicine residency clinic

J. Paul Seale, Sylvia Shellenberger, Wanda Kaye Tillery, John Boltri, Robert Vogel, Barbara Barton, Megan McCauley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of simultaneous systems interventions and clinician training on management of hazardous and harmful drinking in a residency clinic. Systems interventions included forming a multi-disciplinary implementation team, training registration clerks to distribute health risk questionnaires using the AUDIT-C alcohol screen, and training nurses to score the AUDIT-C and administer the AUDIT to screen-positive patients. Clinicians were trained to perform brochure-based interventions on screen-positive patients. Research staff provided compliance feedback. Over 12 months, 8.0% (241/3014) of patients screened positive and 3.8% (115/3014) received brief interventions. For screen-positive patients, comparisons with baseline measurements found increased rates of alcohol assessment (50% vs. 0%, p < .0001) and intervention (48.1% vs. 9.4%, p < .0001). Clinicians intervened more often when prompted with completed AUDITs (72% vs. 23%, p < .0001). Program modifications resulted in progressive increases in numbers of patients screened. This model shows promise for use in other residency programs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)23-31
Number of pages9
JournalSubstance Abuse
Volume26
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alcohol
  • Brief intervention
  • Hazardous drinking
  • Systems intervention

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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