Trauma center brief interventions for alcohol disorders decrease subsequent driving under the influence arrests.
BACKGROUND
A substantial number of trauma center admissions are related to driving under the influence (DUI); however, there has been no prior report of brief intervention (BI) after injury reducing subsequent DUI arrests. The hypothesis of this study was that injured patients receiving BI would have a lower risk of DUI arrest within 3 years of discharge than those receiving standard care (SC).


METHODS
This prospective, randomized clinical trial randomly allocated patients involved in motor vehicle collisions to receive SC or a BI regarding alcohol use. The primary outcome measure was DUI arrest within 3 years of hospital discharge. DUI arrests were documented by matching demographic information to state traffic safety data.


RESULTS
After randomization (N = 126), BI and SC groups were similar in age, prior DUI arrests, and alcohol screening score. BI sessions lasted an average of 30 minutes and were performed by either a social worker or a trauma surgeon. Approximately one in six participants (n = 21, 16.7%) had a DUI arrest within 3 years of hospital discharge. Within 3 years of hospital discharge, 14 of 64 patients (21.9%) in the SC group had an arrest for DUI compared with only 7 of 62 patients (11.3%) who received the BI. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that BI was the strongest protective factor against DUI arrest (odds ratio [OR], 0.32; 95% confidence interval < or =CI], 0.11-0.96). Prior number of DUIs (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.03-2.01) and age (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88-0.99) were also associated with DUI arrest post-hospitalization, but alcohol screening score (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.99-1.13) was not. The absolute risk reduction implies that only nine patients would need to receive a BI to prevent one DUI arrest.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who receive BI during a trauma center admission are less likely to be arrested for DUI within 3 years of discharge. BI represents a viable intervention to reduce DUI after trauma center admission.
Schermer
Carol R
CR
Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Carol_Schermer@med.unc.edu
Moyers
Theresa B
TB
Miller
William R
WR
Bloomfield
Lori A
LA
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003415:Crime / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy