title: Feasibility of using an alcohol-screening and health education system with older primary care patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated the feasibility of a combined alcohol-screening and health education system for elderly patients
  
  
  METHODS
  The Computerized Alcohol-Related Problems Survey (CARPS) was evaluated in primary care practices among 106 current drinkers, 60 years and older. The CARPS contains (1) a self-administered screening survey; (2) software to scan or hand-enter survey responses; (3) software to process data and electronically generate reports of patients' drinking risks; (4) health education; and (5) a database useful for clinical and quality improvement purposes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly all study participants were able to complete the CARPS while waiting for a prescheduled appointment with their physician. There were 44% of patients who were hazardous and 9% who were harmful drinkers. About 20% of men and 26% of women were binge drinkers. Most (85%) patients agreed that alcohol is an important topic, 67% reported learning new information, 78% had never discussed drinking with a physician, and 31% intended to do so. After reviewing CARPS data, physicians concluded that alcohol use in the elderly is an important quality improvement topic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined screening and health education systems appear feasible for use in practice if they deal with pertinent health problems such as alcohol use. Their data can encourage discussions between physicians and patients and might be used for quality improvement activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Higa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation