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Translating research into practice and policy using technology

Ronald Maio, DO, MS, Injury Research Center, University of Michigan, 300 NIB 2D06, Box 0437, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0437, 734-936-1724, ronmaio@umich.edu

Clinical studies, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown the effectiveness of screening and brief intervention (SBI) for alcohol problems in acute care settings such as the emergency department (ED) or trauma care unit. However clinicians practicing in these settings have concern about the generalizability of these findings in regard to practitioner skill and training, personnel resources and time issues. Furthermore, even the RCTs, using specially designated research staff and incentives have failed to approach a substantial portion of all potentially eligible patients entering the sampling frame, and failed to recruit a substantial portion of eligible subjects who were approached. Use of computer-based technology as well as innovative strategies in health promotion, such as tailored messaging (TM) may be one way to overcome these problems. This presentation will do the following 1) Describe the current limitations of relying on ED personnel to identify appropriate patients for SBI and deliver those interventions 2) Describe the ways in which computer technology may overcome these limitations 3) Briefly describe the conceptual framework for TM 4) Briefly discuss two RCTs, one in adults and one in adolescents that are using computer technology to intervene for alcohol problems among ED patients 5) Present the limitations of computer-based interventions. 6) Discuss implications for current dissemination into clinical practice and future research.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Alcohol Problems, New Technology

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.

Screening and Brief Intervention: Translating Research Findings into Policy Change

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA