Citation

Broderick KB, Kaplan B, Martini D, Caruso E. J. Emerg. Med. 2015; 49(4): 400-407.

Affiliation

Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, Colorado.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jemermed.2015.05.014

PMID

26234716

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In 2007, of the 130 million emergency department (ED) visits, ∼ 38 million were due to injury, and of those, 1.9 million involved alcohol. The emergency department is a pivotal place to implement Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) due to the high number of patients presenting with alcohol/substance abuse risk factors or related injuries. STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study compares two surveys, approximately 11 years apart, of emergency physicians nationwide which assesses the use of validated screening tools, the availability of community resources for alcohol/substance abuse treatment, and the prevailing attitudes of emergency physicians regarding Screening and Brief Intervention for alcohol/substance abuse.

METHODS: We performed cross-sectional anonymous surveys of 1500 emergency physicians drawn from American College of Emergency Physicians members. The survey results were compared for time interval change.

RESULTS: The two surveys had comparable response rates. The median percentage of patients screened for alcohol/substance abuse in 1999 was 15%, vs. 20% in 2010. In 2010, 26% of emergency physicians had a formal screening tool, and the majority used Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener (85%). In 2010, a statistically significant increase in the number of emergency physicians said they would "always" or "almost always" use discharge instructions that were specific for alcohol/substance abuse, if available, vs. 1999.

CONCLUSION: Few emergency physicians screen for alcohol/substance abuse despite evidence that screening and brief intervention is effective. Emergency physicians are receptive to the use of discharge material.

Language: en