Abstract
Introduction/Objectives: Alcohol screening and brief intervention (ASBI) strategies are useful in general practice (GP) but their effectiveness in the emergency department (ED) is unclear. We evaluated the effect of ED-based ASBI on re-admissions. Methods: 453 ED subjects exceeding the threshold score on the three-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (females 3+: males 4+) were randomized. We conducted telephone follow-up at 1 and 3 months and recorded hospital events 6 months pre- and post-enrolment. Results: Median weekly alcohol use was 20 standard drinks (interquartile range (IQR) 9-45) on enrolment. After 3 months, 247 (55%) were able to be re-interviewed. Median alcohol use was 10 drinks (IQR 4-26). Six months later, subjects receiving ED-ASBI without GP follow-up had significantly greater risk of re-admission compared with those having GP follow-up (OR 1.68, 95%CI 1.06-2.65; P =.028). Conclusions: ASBI reduces the likelihood of ED re-presentation only in subjects who have GP follow-up. The study has been registered as a clinical trial (Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12617001254381).
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
2021
Volume
12
PubMed ID
34154445
Publication Title
Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
Publisher
SAGE
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
36188
Funders
Western Australian Primary Health Alliance South Metropolitan Health Service Curtin University of Technology
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Comments
Hazeldine, S., Davies, I., Tait, R. J., & Olynyk, J. K. (2021). Critical role of general practitioners in preventing readmission following emergency department alcohol screening and brief intervention management of alcohol-related problems. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 12, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/21501327211027437