AIM: To describe current screening and intervention practice for alcohol problems in a New Zealand trauma centre. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a trauma registry database at a metropolitan hospital in New Zealand, and hospital chart review for documentation of alcohol screening and intervention on a random sample of 120 adults, stratified by ethnicity and blood alcohol status, admitted following unintentional injury for the period January 2003 to December 2004. RESULTS: Among 1970 patients admitted following unintentional injury during the study period, 23% had a blood alcohol test at admission. Approximately half of these tests were positive. While 68% of charts reviewed included a general comment on alcohol use, only 7.3% recorded information that suggested a possible drinking problem. No formal alcohol screening interviews were documented, and in only 1.5% of admissions was an alcohol intervention in the hospital setting recorded. CONCLUSION: Formal screening and interventions for alcohol problems among this group of inpatients were infrequent, indicating missed opportunities to reduce alcohol-related harm and, potentially, trauma recurrence. Effective approaches for alcohol screening and intervention in the New Zealand trauma inpatient setting require review.
AIM: To describe current screening and intervention practice for alcohol problems in a New Zealand trauma centre. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a trauma registry database at a metropolitan hospital in New Zealand, and hospital chart review for documentation of alcohol screening and intervention on a random sample of 120 adults, stratified by ethnicity and blood alcohol status, admitted following unintentional injury for the period January 2003 to December 2004. RESULTS: Among 1970 patients admitted following unintentional injury during the study period, 23% had a blood alcohol test at admission. Approximately half of these tests were positive. While 68% of charts reviewed included a general comment on alcohol use, only 7.3% recorded information that suggested a possible drinking problem. No formal alcohol screening interviews were documented, and in only 1.5% of admissions was an alcohol intervention in the hospital setting recorded. CONCLUSION: Formal screening and interventions for alcohol problems among this group of inpatients were infrequent, indicating missed opportunities to reduce alcohol-related harm and, potentially, trauma recurrence. Effective approaches for alcohol screening and intervention in the New Zealand trauma inpatient setting require review.
Authors: Shanthi Ameratunga; Bridget Kool; Sarah Sharpe; Papaarangi Reid; Arier Lee; Ian Civil; Gordon Smith; Vanessa Thornton; Matthew Walker; Robyn Whittaker Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2017-01-09 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Mete Erdogan; Nelofar Kureshi; Saleema A Karim; John M Tallon; Mark Asbridge; Robert S Green Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2018-11-13 Impact factor: 2.692