@article{ref1,
title="SafERTeens: computerized screening and brief intervention for teens at-risk for youth violence",
journal="Academic emergency medicine",
year="2007",
author="Cunningham, Rebecca and Walton, Maureen A. L. and Zimmerman, Marc and Stanley, Rachel and Chermack, Stephen and Bingham, R. and Shope, Jean T.",
volume="14",
number="Suppl 1",
pages="S106-S107",
abstract="Violent injury is a leading cause of morbidity for urban teens and is often associated with alcohol misuse.  <p>Objectives</p>  <p>We hypothesize that universal computer screening of teens in an urban ED, followed by a brief intervention (BI) for violence will be well received by teens and effective at changing attitudes towards violence and alcohol.</p>  <p>Methods</p>  <p>Findings from the recruitment phase of a randomized controlled trial are reported. Patients age 14-18 on 3-11 shift, 7 days/wk at a Urban Level 1 ED from Sept-Nov 2006 were approached to complete a computerized survey of risk behaviors including violence and alcohol use. Teens who presented with suicide attempt, sexual assault, or unstable vitals were excluded. Measures: recruitment rates, alcohol, violence and weapon carriage attitudes and behaviors, and BI process questions. Teens with past year violence-alcohol use were randomly assigned to control group, or 30-min interactive BI delivered by computer or research therapist containing: review of goals, tailored feedback on risk behaviors, role plays for practicing risk reduction, and referrals.</p>  <p>Results</p>  <p>353 eligible teens were approached, 290 were screened (18% refused): 48% male; 50% African American; and 39% injured/61% medical. Seventy teens (24%) met risk/eligible criteria for BI of which 64 (91%) completed the BI prior to ED discharge: 18 computer, 25 therapist, 19 control. Immediate computerized post-test indicated 81% &quot;liked&quot; the BI, 26% noting they &quot;liked it a lot&quot;. Few teens required assistance with computer survey (6%) or intervention (2%). Paired t-tests found significant reduction pre/post in alcohol (p < 0.001), violence (p < 0.001), and weapon carriage (p < 0.001) attitudes.</p>  <p>Conclusions</p>  <p>This study found universal computerized screening and BI during an ED visit is feasible, well-received and effective at changing violence and alcohol attitudes. Further work is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the BI on reducing violent behavior among urban teens in the ED.<br /> </p>  <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1069-6563",
doi="10.1197/j.aem.2007.03.996",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1197/j.aem.2007.03.996"
}