title: Emergency Physician Utilization of Alcohol/Substance Screening, Brief Advice and Discharge: A 10-Year Comparison.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2007, of the 130 million emergency department (ED) visits, ∼ 38 million were due to injury, and of those, 1.9 million involved alcohol. The emergency department is a pivotal place to implement Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) due to the high number of patients presenting with alcohol/substance abuse risk factors or related injuries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study compares two surveys, approximately 11 years apart, of emergency physicians nationwide which assesses the use of validated screening tools, the availability of community resources for alcohol/substance abuse treatment, and the prevailing attitudes of emergency physicians regarding Screening and Brief Intervention for alcohol/substance abuse.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed cross-sectional anonymous surveys of 1500 emergency physicians drawn from American College of Emergency Physicians members. The survey results were compared for time interval change.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two surveys had comparable response rates. The median percentage of patients screened for alcohol/substance abuse in 1999 was 15%, vs. 20% in 2010. In 2010, 26% of emergency physicians had a formal screening tool, and the majority used Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener (85%). In 2010, a statistically significant increase in the number of emergency physicians said they would "always" or "almost always" use discharge instructions that were specific for alcohol/substance abuse, if available, vs. 1999.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few emergency physicians screen for alcohol/substance abuse despite evidence that screening and brief intervention is effective. Emergency physicians are receptive to the use of discharge material.
authors.affiliation: Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, Colorado.
authors.forename: Kerryann B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Broderick
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado at Denver, Denver, Colorado.
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado at Denver, Denver, Colorado.
authors.forename: Dyllon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.affiliation: Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, Colorado.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caruso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014481:United States
keywords: SBIRT; alcohol abuse; discharge advice; emergency department; substance abuse; substance screening