title: A Multisite Initiative to Increase the Use of Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Through Resident Training and Clinic Systems Changes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Screening and brief intervention (SBI) is a seldom-used evidence-based practice for reducing unhealthy alcohol use among primary care patients. This project assessed the effectiveness of a regional consortium's training efforts in increasing alcohol SBI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Investigators combined alcohol SBI residency training efforts with clinic SBI implementation processes and used chart reviews to assess impact on SBI rates in four residency clinics. Data were derived from a random sample of patient charts collected before (2010; n = 662) and after (2011; n = 656) resident training/clinic implementation. Patient charts were examined for evidence that patients were asked about alcohol use by a validated screening instrument, the screening result (positive or negative), evidence that patients received a brief intervention, prescriptions for medications to assist abstinence, and referrals to alcohol treatment. Chi-square analyses identified differences in pre- and posttraining implementation of SBI practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following program implementation, screening with validated instruments increased from 151/662 (22.8%) at baseline to 543/656 (82.8%, P < .01), and identification of unhealthy alcohol use increased from 12/662 (1.8%) to 41/656 (6.3%, P < .01). Performance of brief interventions more than doubled (10/662 [1.5%] versus 24/656 [3.7%], P < .01). There were no increases in the use of medications or referrals to treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resident training combined with clinic implementation efforts can increase the delivery of evidence-based practices such as alcohol SBI in residency clinics.
authors.affiliation: J.P. Seale is professor and director of research, Department of Family Medicine, Navicent Health and Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia. J.A. Johnson is associate professor, Institute of Public and Preventive Health and Department of Psychology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia. D.C. Clark is project coordinator, Department of Family Medicine, Navicent Health and Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia. S. Shellenberger is professor and director of behavioral sciences, Department of Family Medicine, Navicent Health and Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia. A.T. Pusser is graduate research assistant, Department of Family Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia. J. Dhabliwala is research assistant, Department of Family Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia. E.J. Sigman is a third-year medical student, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia. T. Dittmer is a third-year medical student, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia. K.B. Le is assistant professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. D.P. Miller is associate professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. D. Clemow is assistant professor, AnMed Health Family Medicine Residency Program, Anderson, South Carolina.
authors.forename: J Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Seale
authors.forename: J Aaron
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Denice Crowe
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shellenberger
authors.forename: Andrea T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Pusser
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dhabliwala
authors.forename: Erika J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Sigman
authors.forename: Trenton
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dittmer
authors.forename: Kristy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barnes Le
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Clemow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States