Implementing alcohol screening and intervention in a family medicine residency clinic

Subst Abus. 2005 Mar;26(1):23-31. doi: 10.1300/j465v26n01_03.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / diagnosis*
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Alcoholism / rehabilitation
  • Counseling
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Curriculum
  • Family Practice / education*
  • Georgia
  • Health Plan Implementation*
  • Humans
  • Internship and Residency*
  • Mass Screening*
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital
  • Pamphlets
  • Program Evaluation
  • Surveys and Questionnaires