Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111485

Robert H. Aseltine, PhD, Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, MC 3910, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06030-3910, 860 679-3282, aseltine@uchc.edu

BACKROUND: Many emergency department (ED) patients are high risk or dependent drinkers. This study (translational research in a real life setting) examined the impact of a program involving screening, brief intervention and referral for treatment (SBIRT) on ED patients' drinking behavior at 3 months. IMPLEMENTATION: ED patients meeting NIAAA criteria for high risk drinking were recruited from 14 sites nationwide from April to August 2004. All enrollees received a list of local referral resources. Intervention group patients also participated in a 15 minute negotiated interview and ED staff referred them directly for treatment if indicated. Enrollees completed 3-month follow-up surveys. SUDAAN was used to adjust for the clustered sampling design. EVALUATION: 26% of screened ED patients met inclusion criteria. A total of 1137 patients were enrolled across 14 sites (561 intervention, 576 control), with 62% male, 37% Black, and 38% White, and a mean age of 37. At baseline intervention-i and control-c groups were similar in demographic and drinking characteristics. The follow-up rate was 62% (n=687). Male gender was the only significant predictor of attrition. At 3-month follow up, intervention group enrollees reported greater reductions than controls in the typical number of drinks per occasion and the maximum number per occasion. CONCLUSION: SBIRT may foster decreases in alcohol use among high risk drinkers presenting at EDs for acute medical emergencies. Widespread use of SBIRT in EDs has the potential to result in improved public health and significant cost savings.

Learning Objectives: Participants will

• Understand the key elements of screening & brief intervention for risky drinking in an ED setting;
• See evidence supporting use of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology in patient surveys;
• Learn about the efficacy of SBIRT in reducing alcohol use among high risk drinkers presenting to EDs.

Keywords: Alcohol Problems, Screening

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.