title: Primary care follow-up plans for adolescents with substance use problems.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary care visits provide an opportunity to screen adolescents for substance use and offer early intervention, but little is known about follow-up plans. The objective of this study was to determine recommendations by PCPs and assess the relationship between their diagnostic impressions of substance use severity and plans for intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected through a prospective observational study conducted at 7 primary care practices in New England. Patients aged 12 to 18 years completed an interview, which included sociodemographic characteristics and the CRAFFT substance abuse screen. PCPs received screen results, noted their diagnostic impression of participants' substance use severity, and recorded follow-up plans. Follow-up plans other than "periodic screening" alone were defined as "active intervention." We examined the relationship of provider impressions with follow-up recommendations by using the chi(2) test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For 2034 adolescents, PCPs recommended no plan for 369 patients, periodic screening for 1557 patients, a return visit for 98 patients, and referral to counseling for 44 patients. PCPs' diagnostic impressions identified 97 (4.8%) patients with problem use and 19 (0.01%) patients with abuse or dependence. Recommendations for active intervention were more likely with patients' higher severity of use. However, 1 in 5 patients thought to have problem use did not receive a recommendation for an active intervention. Parent notification was planned for only 13 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When concerned about substance use, PCPs recommend a return visit to their office more than twice as often as referral to counseling, and rarely planned to engage parents. PCPs need enhanced training and strategies for delivery of office-based interventions.
authors: Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. areej.hassan@childrens.harvard.edu
authors: Areej
authors: A
authors: Hassan
authors: Sion Kim
authors: SK
authors: Harris
authors: Lon
authors: L
authors: Sherritt
authors: Shari
authors: S
authors: Van Hook
authors: Traci
authors: T
authors: Brooks
authors: Peggy
authors: P
authors: Carey
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Kossack
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Kulig
authors: John R
authors: JR
authors: Knight
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009511:New England; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*