Alcohol Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Alcohol, including details on use, abuse, treatment, health, rehab.

The half-life of the 'teachable moment' for alcohol misusing patients in the emergency department.

Williams S, Brown A, Patton R, Crawford MJ, Touquet R

Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK.

BACKGROUND: To determine whether the length of time between alcohol-related attendance in the emergency department (ED) and follow-up appointment with an alcohol health worker (AHW) alters attendance rate at the AHW clinic. METHODS: We examined paper and computerized records made by AHWs over a 4-year period, collecting data on the length of time between identification of alcohol misuse and the appointment with the AHW, and whether the appointment was kept. RESULTS: There is an inverse relationship between the length of time between identification of alcohol misuse and AHW appointment and the subsequent likelihood of keeping that appointment. CONCLUSIONS: To maximise attendance rates at AHW clinics, the delay between the identification and intervention for alcohol misusing patients must be kept to a minimum, preferably giving an appointment on the same day as the attendance in the ED.

Published 24 January 2005 in Drug Alcohol Depend, 77(2): 205-8.
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