Addressing Alcohol-Impaired Driving: Training Physicians to Detect and Counsel Their Patients Who Drink Heavily

NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Researchhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15254262000PDFResearch PaperRivara, F. P.Dunn, C.Simpson, E.University of Washington. Harborview Injury Prevention and Research CenterUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Research and Traffic RecordsUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationAlaskaIdahoMontanaAlcohol abusePhysiciansSpecialized trainingDOT-HS-809-076NTIS-PB2000106938DTNH22-97-H-35072Walker, Jon; Berning, AmyAlcohol is the most common chronic disease in trauma patients, and one of the most common in patients treated in primary care. Studies have shown that brief counseling intervention in trauma centers and primary care clinics are efficient in reducing drinking and its related illness and injury. Unfortunately, although trauma centers and primary care clinics are ideal settings for such brief alcohol interventions, routine screening and brief counseling for alcohol problems is not commonly practiced by physicians in these settings. The goal of this project was to address alcohol abuse at the individual patient level and at the community level. At the individual patient level, the project encouraged physicians to perform a protocol for brief alcohol interventions to address alcohol abuse. This protocol consists of screening for alcohol problems, brief counseling, and referral. This was primarily done by offering training in this protocol to physicians, residents and medical students. The project focused on the pacific northwestern United States (Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho). /Abstract from report summary page/129