Citation

Armstrong R, Barry J. Ir. Med. J. 2014; 107(2): 39-41.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Winstone Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

24654479

Abstract

Alcohol is ranked as the eighth leading cause of death globally and is a causal factor in more than sixty major types of diseases and injuries and results in approximately 2.5 million deaths a year. This study tested the feasibility of screening and brief intervention (SBI) within four emergency departments. A total of 944 patients were screened for hazardous and harmful alcohol use. The results showed that there was good co-operation from the public with 888 (94%) people agreeing to be screened. The screening tool detected that 460 (49%) of those needed no intervention, 345 (36%) needed brief advice and 83 (9%) required referral to specialist services. This showed the value of the screening but also helped to reassure staff that people were happy to take part.

Language: en