An identification and brief advice programme for low-risk alcohol consumption in an acute medical setting: an implementation study

• Published in: JRSM short reports Vol. 4; no. 5; pp. 2042533313476696 - 7
• Main Authors: Woodrow, Susannah R, Green, Stuart A, Phekoo, Karen J, Grover, Vijay Pb, Lovendoski, James, Anderson, Mike, Bowden-Jones, Owen, Foxton, Matthew R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England SAGE Publications 01.05.2013
• ISSN: 2042-5333; 2042-5333
• DOI: 10.1177/2042533313476696

To implement an identification and brief advice (IBA) intervention to detect low-risk/hazardous alcohol consumption. Implementation was guided through the use of quality improvement tools and training. This study was conducted over an 18-month period from April 2010 to September 2011 on a 42-bed acute medical unit at a central London acute hospital. All medical patients over the age of 18 admitted to the acute assessment unit were eligible; any patient unable to provide a medical history either through language barriers or due to illness was excluded. Percentage of medical patients admitted each week to the acute assessment unit who were screened for low-risk/hazardous alcohol consumption. Weekly data were analysed in time series run charts and cross-referenced to the date of educational sessions and their effect on the uptake of screening monitored. A demonstrable change in the mean percentage number of patients screened was observed in different time periods, 67.3-80.1%, following targeted teaching on the AAU. Our study demonstrates the successful use of quality improvement methodology to guide the implementation of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C), an IBA intervention, in the acute medical setting. The incorporation of the AUDIT-C into an admission document has been well accepted by the junior doctors, attaining an average (mean) of 80% of patients being screened using the tool. Targeted teaching of clinical staff involved in admitting patients appears to be the most effective method in improving uptake of IBA by junior doctors.