The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #55862

A. Haque, MBBS, MPH, J Helmpkamp, PhD, S. Swisher-McClure, BS, J. Williams, MD, P. Ehrlich, MD, and W. Manley, RN. Center for Rural Emergency Medicine, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9151, Morgantown, WV 26505, 304.293.6682, ahaque@hsc.wvu.edu

OBJECTIVES: To pilot test the inclusion of the AUDIT-C in a general health screen used in a rural, university-based Emergency Department (ED) and to characterize patients identified to be at-risk for alcohol problems. METHODS: From August 2001 to July 2002, consenting ED patients between 18 and 39 years of age were provided with a self-report general health screen questionnaire, which included 3 questions from the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) related to frequency and quantity of alcohol intake (AUDIT-C). Those scoring ³ 4(out of 12; Sensitivity 97.7%, Specificity 65.6%) were considered at-risk (screen-positive) for mild-to-moderate alcohol problems. RESULTS: The consent rate was 48.3% (925 of 1,910) among age-eligible patients. AUDIT-C identified 26.1% (241 of 925) of the consented patients to be at-risk for alcohol problems. The median times for consent and general health screening were 3 and 4 minutes, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed the screen-positive patients were more likely to be students (OR=3.7, 95%CI=2.1-6.5), single (OR=2.9, CI=1.6-5.5), smoke cigarettes (OR=2.9, CI=1.8-4.9), not use seatbelts (OR=1.9, CI=1.1-3.1), and go to an ED for regular medical care (OR=2.3, CI=1.3-3.9); p<0.01 for all comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: The AUDIT-C appears to be a convenient method of identifying ED patients at-risk for alcohol problems. Acceptability by patients and the short times for administration are advantageous for incorporation into routine clinical practice. This abbreviated method of alcohol screening, as part of a larger lifestyle habit review, readily identifies and profiles patients at-risk for alcohol problems.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• Use a short general health screen on patients while in a waiting room scenario.
• Perform screening and identify alcohol at-risk individuals using the general health screen and AUDIT-C (the quantity and frequency section of AUDIT).
• Profiling of individuals enables further investigation and planning for intervention targeted for the alcohol at-risk population.

Keywords: Alcoholism, Screening Instruments

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Handout (.ppt format, 538.0 kb)